The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin in response to last weekend’s attempted coup in the neighbouring country.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the approval during plenary after the request was considered by lawmakers sitting as the Committee of the Whole, in line with Section 5, Part II, of the 1999 Constitution.
The request received unanimous support from the senators, giving legislative backing to Nigeria’s proposed regional security intervention. Akpabio said the decision was necessary to protect peace and stability within West Africa, noting that instability in one member state could easily spill across borders.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” Akpabio said, stressing Nigeria’s responsibility to stand with its ECOWAS partners in defending constitutional order and regional security.
He added that the Senate’s consent letter would be transmitted to President Tinubu immediately, formally authorising the deployment of Nigerian forces to Benin Republic.
The Senate’s approval comes amid heightened concerns over political instability across West Africa. Earlier, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared a state of emergency in the region following a surge in coups and attempted military takeovers.
The declaration was made by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, during the 55th session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level, held in Abuja.
Touray said the sub-region is facing unprecedented security and political threats, warning that the growing wave of unconstitutional changes of government requires urgent and collective action.
“Our region is confronting a disturbing resurgence of coups and attempted mutinies that challenge our collective commitment to constitutional order,” Touray told ministers and security chiefs at the meeting.
He said ECOWAS remains committed to restoring stability through diplomatic engagement, the imposition of sanctions where necessary, and the strengthening of regional security mechanisms.
Further details on the scope and operational impact of the state of emergency are expected to emerge after the conclusion of deliberations by the council.