Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, hosted his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Adjadi Bakar, in Abuja, where both officials reflected on the recent attempted coup in the Republic of Benin and the escalating security challenges confronting West Africa.
During their meeting at the ECOWAS headquarters, Tuggar emphasized that many of Nigeria’s security problems are “exogenous,” explaining that the deep social, economic, and political ties between Nigeria and Benin mean crises in one country inevitably affect the other.
He noted that this interconnected reality makes a unified regional strategy essential rather than optional.
The two ministers applauded the strong cooperative relationship that already exists between both nations and underscored the need to strengthen it further to safeguard regional stability. Tuggar reiterated that the shared responsibility for peace requires coordinated responses and continuous collaboration.
Bakar, speaking on the attempted coup in Benin, said the developments of recent days demonstrated that democratic values remain resilient across Africa. He expressed gratitude for the rapid support that helped prevent the coup plot from escalating, praising Nigeria for responding swiftly when Benin sought ECOWAS assistance.
According to Bakar, the request for Nigerian troops became necessary because the coup plotters had positioned themselves in a highly sensitive area. What Benin needed, he explained, was precise aerial reinforcement to carry out a targeted operation that neutralised the threat without harming civilians.
He further stressed the urgent need for a standby regional force capable of responding decisively to any future destabilization attempts. Bakar credited the existing synergy between Nigeria and Benin as a major factor in restoring order and confirmed that the situation in Benin is now fully contained.
What You Should Know
Nigeria and Benin’s foreign ministers met in Abuja to review the recent attempted coup in Benin and broader regional insecurity.
Nigeria emphasised that insecurity in the region spills easily across borders, making joint action essential. Benin’s foreign minister praised Nigeria’s swift support, explaining that precise military assistance was required to prevent the coup plotters from advancing.
Both countries agreed on the need for deeper cooperation and called for a standby regional force capable of responding quickly to emerging threats. Authorities confirmed that stability has now been restored in Benin.
