The Senate has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin as part of a peace mission aimed at restoring democratic order in the neighbouring country.

The approval was granted on Tuesday after lawmakers deliberated on the President’s letter during the Committee of the Whole at plenary.

In the letter, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu sought the Senate’s endorsement following a coup attempt in Benin, noting that Nigeria’s military assistance was urgently required to help reinstate constitutional governance.

The request also formalises a deployment that had already began on Sunday, when Nigerian Armed Forces personnels were dispatched to assist Beninese authorities after a group of soldiers attempted to seize power.

In the letter titled, “Deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for a peace mission”, Tinubu cited Section 5(5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stating that he had consulted with the National Defence Council before seeking legislative consent.

“This request is made further to a request received from the Government of Benin Republic for the exceptional and immediate provision of air support by the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Distinguished Senate may wish to note that the Government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption and destabilization of democratic institutions.

“The situation as reported by the Government of Benin requires urgent external intervention.

“The Distinguished Senate considers the close ties of brotherhood and friendship which exist between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, as well as the principles of collective security upheld within ECOWAS.

“It is our duty to provide the support as requested by the Government of the Republic of Benin.”

After reading the letter, Akpabio referred the request to the Committee of the whole for immediate legislative action.