Senate Approves Tinubu’s Request to Deploy Nigerian Troops to Benin in Regional Stability Mission
Nigeria’s Senate has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin as part of a joint regional mission aimed at preventing political unrest and safeguarding constitutional governance in the neighbouring state.
The approval came on Tuesday after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s correspondence seeking the chamber’s consent, a step PulseNets learnt is mandatory under constitutional provisions governing foreign military operations.
According to details obtained by PulseNets, Tinubu urged lawmakers to authorise the Nigerian Armed Forces to join a multinational peace and stability initiative in Benin, with the goal of deterring any unconstitutional attempts to seize power and reinforcing democratic institutions across the border.
Senators Enter Closed-Door Session
Moments after the letter was tabled, the Senate moved into a closed-door committee session, where members scrutinised the security, political and humanitarian implications of the proposed deployment.
Legislative insiders told PulseNets that senators assessed potential consequences should Benin’s political environment deteriorate, including fears of displaced persons crossing into Nigeria and heightened strain on already fragile border communities.
Some lawmakers, PulseNets learnt, expressed reservations about the additional weight such a mission could place on the Nigerian military, which continues to grapple with multiple internal security challenges. Others countered that a swift regional intervention outside Nigeria’s borders might prevent a far more destabilising crisis from emerging and spilling over.
In the end, the prevailing view supported approval, with many senators insisting that Nigeria has strategic obligations and cannot turn a blind eye to instability in a neighbouring country.
Approval Through Voice Vote
Following the closed-door deliberations, the committee adopted its report recommending full legislative support for the president’s request.
When plenary resumed, Akpabio presented the committee’s findings and sought confirmation from members that the document reflected their resolutions. The chamber agreed through a voice vote.
A final motion endorsing the deployment was subsequently put forward. The majority of senators answered with a resounding “aye”, granting the executive the parliamentary backing required to proceed with the mission in Benin Republic.
“This Decision Also Shields Nigeria” – Akpabio
Speaking after the decision, Akpabio said the Senate was convinced that the president’s request aligned with Nigeria’s long-standing commitment to peacekeeping, regional stability and the defence of democratic rule in West Africa.
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“From our assessment, this move is not just about Benin Republic,” he stated. “It is fundamentally about Nigeria’s security. Acting early helps us strengthen our borders, reduce cross-border criminal threats, and take a firm stand for democracy within our sub-region.”
He emphasised that instability in any West African state will inevitably affect its neighbours, stressing that “when one country in our region is unsettled, the ripple effect eventually reaches the rest.”
