Nigeria, Benin foreign ministers meet in Abuja amid rising regional security concerns

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, held a meeting on Thursday in Abuja with his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Adjadi Bakar, in response to recent security challenges across West Africa, including the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin.

The discussions took place at the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

During the engagement, both diplomats reflected on the attempted overthrow of Benin’s government, an event that heightened concerns about political stability in the region.

Tuggar noted that many of Nigeria’s security problems originate from outside its borders and emphasized the interconnected nature of the two nations.

He explained that because Nigeria and Benin share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties, disruptions in one country inevitably influence the other.

According to him, this makes stronger regional cooperation not just beneficial but necessary.

Both ministers commended the existing strong partnership between their countries and agreed on the importance of sustaining deeper collaboration to enhance regional security.

They warned that emerging threats, particularly the recent coup attempt, demonstrate that coordinated responses must be swift and strategic.

Beninese Foreign Minister Bakar highlighted that despite the attempted coup, democracy in his country and in Africa at large, remains resilient.

He expressed gratitude for the swift support that prevented the situation from escalating, noting that Nigeria’s prompt response to Benin’s request for ECOWAS assistance was pivotal.

According to Bakar, the coup plotters had occupied sensitive areas, making it crucial to deploy Nigerian troops capable of offering precise aerial support to neutralize their positions without harming civilians.

He further stressed the need to establish a standby regional force capable of responding immediately to similar threats in the future.

Bakar noted that the strong cooperation already in place between Nigeria and Benin made it possible to restore calm quickly, confirming that Benin had regained full stability following the foiled coup.