Nigeria Senate Approves Tinubu’s Troop Deployment to Benin

The Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, granted swift legislative approval to President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin. This authorization clears the way for a full-scale regional security intervention after the Beninese government formally requested air support and ground security assistance following the attempted military coup led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri earlier in the week.
Legislative Swiftness and Constitutional Mandate
The approval was passed through a voice vote in the Senate, underscoring the political consensus in Nigeria regarding the necessity of stabilizing the neighbouring West African state. President Tinubu’s request, submitted in a letter and read on the Senate floor, was mandated by Section 5(5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires the President to obtain legislative consent for troop deployment.
The intervention is fully aligned with the protocols of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The regional bloc had previously ordered the immediate deployment of elements of its ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), which is set to draw troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the national security implications of the deployment, stating that the decision would help prevent a potential influx of refugees into Nigeria and protect the country’s vast western borders from destabilization. This move highlights Nigeria’s historic responsibility and commitment as the regional leader to upholding constitutional order against the wave of military takeovers sweeping the “Coup Belt” of West Africa.
The Nigerian Force Composition
While the authorization did not specify exact troop numbers, the mission is being executed by the Nigerian Armed Forces under the formal request of the Beninese Command authority. The deployment draws on Nigeria’s standing capability for regional peace-enforcement and stabilization missions:
* Ground Elements: Ground security elements for such initial stabilization packages typically commit between 300 and 800 soldiers. These forces would likely be drawn from the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division (known for its rapid reaction battalions and structured peacekeeping capability) and 2 Division, whose proximity to the western border allows for quicker mobilization. The ground troops are reportedly operating “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority.”
* Air Component: The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has already been deployed, having provided decisive air support that helped thwart the initial coup attempt. The air elements, drawn from Air Component West, generally involve an initial sizing of 4-8 aircraft and supporting logistics teams. The assets available for close air support, reconnaissance, and deterrent patrols include the F-7Ni fighter jets, A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, and rotary-wing detachments. Air Force involvement is deemed essential due to Benin’s lack of sufficient fixed-wing strike or Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms necessary to monitor militia movements, protect civilian centers, and prevent spillover from Sahel-linked armed groups increasingly active near the border.
The combined force aims to stabilize the internal security situation, support President Patrice Talon’s government, and safeguard the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin.