President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has requested the Senate’s consent to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin following a recent coup attempt in the country.
The President’s request, contained in a letter titled “Deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for a peace mission”, was read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In the letter, Tinubu cited Section 5(5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and indicated that, in consultation with the National Defence Council, he seeks the Senate’s consent for the troop deployment.
The President stated that the Government of Benin Republic is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption and destabilization of democratic institutions, requiring urgent external intervention.
The Senate has referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.
