The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin in support of efforts to restore peace and stability after last weekend’s attempted coup.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the approval on Tuesday during plenary, following the chamber’s consideration of the request in the Committee of the Whole, in accordance with Section 5, Part II of the Constitution.
Lawmakers unanimously endorsed the deployment, providing legislative backing for Nigeria’s involvement in the regional security operation.
Akpabio described the decision as timely and necessary, stressing that political instability in any neighbouring country poses a wider threat to regional peace.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” he said, emphasising Nigeria’s responsibility to support its partners within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
President Tinubu, who also serves as ECOWAS Chairman, had earlier written to the Senate seeking approval for the deployment of troops to Benin Republic as part of the bloc’s coordinated response to the attempted coup.
