——- Says the he deployment is necessary to safeguard our borders, strengthen sub-regional security, and protect Nigerian citizens and economic interests.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate’s approval to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin as part of an intensified regional security effort.

The request, delivered in a letter read during Tuesday’s Senate plenary, seeks legislative authorisation for the Nigerian Armed Forces to participate in a joint mission aimed at tackling growing cross-border security threats.

According to the President, the deployment is anchored on existing bilateral and regional defence agreements between Nigeria and Benin Republic. He noted that criminal groups operating around the Nigeria-Benin corridor have increasingly disrupted trade routes, endangered border communities, and undermined regional stability.

Tinubu explained that the proposed mission would support counter terrorism operations, dismantle smuggling networks, and strengthen joint patrols along high-risk border areas such as the Seme axis and routes linking the North-West and North-Central regions.

The Senate is expected to deliberate on the request in the coming days, in accordance with constitutional provisions guiding external military operations. If approved, the move would deepen Nigeria’s security cooperation with Benin at a time both countries are intensifying efforts to curb the activities of armed groups across their shared borders.

The request also forms part of broader initiatives by the Tinubu administration to enhance regional collaboration and reinforce Nigeria’s leadership role within West Africa.