Connect with us

News

BREAKING: Nigerian Senate Approves President Tinubu’s Request for Military Deployment to Benin Republic

Published

on

399 Views

The Nigerian Senate has swiftly approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to the Republic of Benin on a peacekeeping mission, aimed at restoring stability following a foiled coup attempt in the neighboring country.

The decision was announced during Tuesday’s plenary session after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s formal letter, which invoked Section 5(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and consultations with the National Defence Council.

The chamber immediately resolved into a Committee of the Whole for deliberations, leading to a unanimous vote of approval with lawmakers responding “aye.”

In the letter, titled “Deployment of Nigerian Troops to the Republic of Benin for Peace Mission,” Tinubu highlighted the urgent need for intervention amid an “attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption and destabilisation of democratic institutions” in Benin.

He emphasized Nigeria’s historical ties of brotherhood with Benin and its obligations under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to promote collective security.

The move follows a dramatic coup bid on Sunday, when rogue soldiers briefly seized a television station in Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital, declaring President Patrice Talon removed from office.

The plotters, styling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” were quickly repelled by loyal forces, with several arrests made. Nigeria had already provided emergency support, including fighter jets, at Benin’s request to thwart the incursion.

ECOWAS has since ordered the deployment of its Standby Force, comprising troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, to bolster regional stability.

Tinubu’s request aligns with this framework, underscoring the potential risks to Nigeria, including refugee influxes across shared borders and heightened criminality if instability persists.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) moved for urgent consideration, while Akpabio praised the president’s adherence to constitutional protocols.

“Injury to one is injury to all,” Akpabio stated, noting the mission’s role in safeguarding democracy and preventing broader threats to Nigeria’s borders. A formal letter of consent will be transmitted to Tinubu immediately, clearing the path for full operational deployment.

The approval comes amid a wave of instability in West Africa, with recent coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau raising alarms about democratic backsliding in the region. Analysts view Nigeria’s involvement as a critical test of Tinubu’s leadership in ECOWAS, where he serves as chairman.

Reactions from opposition lawmakers were muted during the session, with the focus on swift action to avert escalation. Defence Headquarters is expected to outline operational details soon, as Nigerian forces prepare to join the multinational effort.

News

President Tinubu Designates Joseph Tegbe New Minister of Power

Mr Tegbe’s experience includes significant engagements within the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reform involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).

Published

on

By

21 Views

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

The nomination has been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with the Constitution.

The nomination follows the resignation of the former Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down from office to pursue elective office.

Mr Tegbe, from Oyo State, is a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors.

He is a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led wide-ranging initiatives in fiscal policy reform, institutional transformation, and governance.

He has also advised key government institutions and private sector organisations on strategic reforms, regulatory frameworks, and investment structuring.

He is at present the Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he is responsible for strengthening bilateral development cooperation between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.

The NCSP also coordinates engagements with public sector stakeholders to advance economic and social development in line with FOCAC objectives.

Mr Tegbe’s experience includes significant engagements within the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reform involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).

His nomination is expected to strengthen further ongoing efforts to reform the power sector, enhance grid stability, and attract sustainable investment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President expects the Minister-Designate, upon confirmation, to bring his extensive expertise to bear to advance critical reforms and deliver improved outcomes for Nigerians in the power sector.

Continue Reading

News

Egbin Shutdown Throws Lagos Into Darkness, says NISO

Egbin Power Station, which is the largest electricity-generating plant on the national grid and a major contributor to daily power supply in Nigeria, experienced a major operational disturbance.

Published

on

By

24 Views

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) said on Thursday power supply to the Lagos region is currently restricted due to a sudden shutdown of the Egbin Power Station and the forced outage of the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, thereby limiting the evacuation of available generation into the Lagos load centre.

NISO said that the dual disruptions has created a significant supply gap, forcing authorities to ration electricity to prevent a total system collapse.

NISO explained that at approximately 8:21 p.m. on April 28, 2026, Egbin Power Station recorded a total loss of generation, dropping from about 641MW to zero output.

This incident was caused by the failure of the plant’s central compressor, in addition to a malfunction of the circulating water pump system, which necessitated an immediate shutdown of all generating units to safeguard the facility.

Egbin Power Station, which is the largest electricity-generating plant on the national grid and a major contributor to daily power supply in Nigeria, experienced a major operational disturbance.

Continue Reading

News

Tinubu designates Rabiu Umar new CEO of NMDPRA

Umar is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, and a proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery..

Published

on

By

28 Views

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the removal of Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

In a State House statement issued on Wednesday signed by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President also approved the nomination of Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, with the appointment subject to Senate confirmation.

The decision, according to the statement, was made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Umar is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, and a proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery.

He is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

Continue Reading

Trending