The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin, following last weekend’s failed attempt to overthrow President Patrice Talon. The decision was announced on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio after lawmakers examined the president’s letter during the plenary session in line with constitutional requirements.

Senators unanimously backed the deployment, giving Tinubu the necessary legislative clearance to contribute forces to a regional stabilisation effort. Akpabio described the approval as both urgent and important, warning that instability in a neighbouring country could easily spread across West Africa. He emphasised that Nigeria has responsibilities under ECOWAS to support member states in crisis.

Tinubu’s letter stressed that Nigeria has a long-standing duty—under ECOWAS security agreements—to assist Benin and help prevent the situation from escalating. The attempted coup unfolded on Sunday when a group of soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” appeared on state television and announced the removal of Talon from office. Loyal forces, however, quickly crushed the rebellion and restored order.

Sources close to the Beninese government later confirmed that the regular army had fully regained control of Cotonou and other key areas, adding that calm was returning.

In response to the unrest, ECOWAS authorised the immediate deployment of its standby force. The regional bloc announced that troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana would support Benin’s government and armed forces in protecting constitutional rule and safeguarding national territory.

The Senate’s formal approval will now be forwarded to the President.