Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), on Tuesday, declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in Sunday’s attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, saying his timely role prevented a major security threat to Nigeria. Chairman of NGF and governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this while reacting to the development.
That was as Senate granted Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to Benin, endorsing what the lawmakers described as a decisive and constitutionally grounded move to prevent the collapse of democratic order in the neighbouring country.
At the same time, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) applauded Nigeria’s role in quashing the coup, saying it must be the standard to safeguard democracy.
Relatedly, France, on Tuesday, said it provided intelligence and logistical support to Benin to help thwart Sunday’s coup attempt in the former French colony, according to officials from the French presidency.
AbdulRazaq said a successful military takeover in Benin would have created opportunities for militants and other non-state actors operating across the Sahel to further destabilise Nigeria.
He said large portions of the country, including the forests, had already been infiltrated by armed groups.
The governor, in a statement, insisted that any collapse of constitutional order in the neighbouring country would have had direct security implications for Nigerian border communities.
He stated, “Apart from supporting democratic order in the Sub-region, the president acted in the best interest of Nigeria and West Africa.
“With the Sahel already in severe security distress, a successful coup in Benin would have had devastating effects on our own country due to the long and porous borders we share.”
The forum praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for the rapid response that helped restore stability in Benin, stating that threats to cities such as Porto Novo, Cotonou or Parakou pose serious risks to Nigeria.
“It is our position that democracy, despite its challenges, remains the most reliable framework for regional peace, stability and development,” it added.
NGF said the intervention, carried out at the request of Benin, strengthened ongoing ECOWAS security efforts aimed at preventing further spread of militancy in the region.
Senate, on Tuesday, granted Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to the Republic of Benin. The lawmakers described the move as decisive and constitutionally grounded to prevent the collapse of democratic order in the neighbouringcountry.
The approval came moments after the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, read Tinubu’s urgent letter, triggering an immediate debate and a vote of affirmation from senators, who said Nigeria could not afford instability next door.
Ruling after the session, Akpabio declared, “Distinguished colleagues, will the senate now confirm the actions of Mr. President, the deployment of the Air Force and troops to the Benin Republic to ensure a peace mission and restore order and sanity in that country? Those in support say ‘aye’… Those against say ‘nay.’ The ayes have it. The approval is hereby confirmed.”
Akpabio praised Tinubu for adhering to constitutional provisions by seeking legislative consent before putting Nigerian troops in harm’s way.
He said, “Let me thank the president for complying with the constitutional requirements.
“We believe he has taken a step in the right direction. This is about saving a neighbouring democracy, protecting Nigerians from the ripple effects, and preventing the influx of thousands of refugees. Injury to one is injury to all.”
He added that senators approved the request “without much discussion” because the threat unfolding in Cotonou demanded unity of purpose. “We congratulate the president for rising to the occasion,” he said.
In his letter, Tinubu informed the upper chamber that the government of the Republic of Benin had come under immediate threat from an “attempted unconstitutional seizure of power” that imperilled its democratic institutions.
Tinubu said the situation required “urgent external intervention,” particularly air support from Nigeria, to prevent anti-democratic forces from toppling the government.
Tinubu wrote, “The government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and destabilisation of democratic institutions.
“The distinguished Senate may wish to note the close ties of brotherhood and friendship between Nigeria and Benin, as well as the principles of collective security within ECOWAS.”
The president, who doubles as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, anchored his request on Section 5(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandated Senate approval for deployment of the armed forces on foreign missions.
He urged senators to grant “expeditious consideration” so that the armed forces could respond without delay.
Immediately after reading the letter, Akpabio referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for deliberation, saying the matter is “a national priority with far-reaching security implications for Nigeria and the ECOWAS region”.
Senators subsequently reviewed the operational, legal and diplomatic dimensions of the planned deployment before giving the green light.
The senate president promised that the approval document would be transmitted to the president immediately.
The attempted coup in Benin had further heightened concerns within ECOWAS, which had, in the past four years, witnessed multiple military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger.
Under Tinubu’s leadership, the regional bloc had repeatedly warned that unconstitutional changes of government posed an existential threat to West Africa’s stability and economic integration.
Only days before the senate received Tinubu’s request, ECOWAS had issued a strongly worded statement condemning developments in Cotonou and urging member states to stand firmly against anti-democratic forces.
Nigeria and Benin share deep security cooperation, especially along their expansive land borders, where joint operations target smuggling, terrorism and transnational crime.
The unfolding crisis presented a major test of that longstanding partnership and Nigeria’s readiness to assert leadership in defending democratic governance in the region.
Lawmakers warned that failing to act quickly could trigger destabilisationthat would spill into Nigeria, affecting border communities and potentially overwhelming security agencies with refugee inflows.
Akpabio summed up the chamber’s stance, when he said, “The impact this would have had on Nigeria in terms of the security of our brothers would have been terrible. We have acted swiftly, and in the national interest.”
Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Emmanuel Addeh, Sunday Aborisade and Yinka Kolawole
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