President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to authorise the deployment of Nigerian troops to Benin Republic to help restore peace and protect democratic institutions threatened by an attempted military takeover in the neighbouring West African country.
Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary session on Tuesday.
Tinubu further explained that his action was in line with Section 5(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires him to consult the Senate before deploying the armed forces on combat missions outside Nigeria.
He said, “Pursuant to Section 5 (5) Part 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I seek further to consultation with the National Defence Council, the consent of the Senate for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin.”
