Crisis In Benin: President Tinubu Writes Senate For Military Intervention [Video]

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally written to the Senate seeking consent for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The request was disclosed on Tuesday when Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter during plenary. The President explained that the troop deployment is intended as a peace mission in response to the recent attempted coup in Benin.

Tinubu noted that the intervention is being conducted at the request of Benin’s President Patrice Talon and aligns with the protocols of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He further stated that the deployment is consistent with Section 30, Subsection 5 of the Nigerian Constitution, in consultation with the National Defence Council.

The Senate has referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.

Nigeria had previously provided air support during the coup attempt, following an unconstitutional breach in Benin. A source in the 10th Senate clarified that President Tinubu has up to 14 days to consult with lawmakers for approval before deploying troops for combat operations in another country, countering claims that Senate approval must be obtained within 24 hours.

The presidency described Nigeria’s intervention as a demonstration of Tinubu’s leadership in maintaining peace and constitutional order across West Africa. The deployment followed a brief seizure of Benin’s state television station on Sunday by soldiers operating under the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, who had announced the overthrow of President Talon’s government. The coup was swiftly thwarted by fighter jets and Nigerian troops.

The source explained that Section 5(5) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution empowers the President to deploy armed forces abroad for limited combat duties when imminent security threats arise, provided Senate consent is sought within 14 days of the operation. The Senate then has seven days to approve or reject the deployment, ensuring a balance between executive action and legislative oversight. The Constitution emphasizes that while the President can act in consultation with the National Defence Council, prompt notification to the Senate is required for ratification.