The Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has debunked the allegation circulating in the media that Benin Republic, Nigeria’s neighbour to the west, is aspiring to be integrated into Nigeria as its 37th constituent state.
The Ministry stated this in a press release with reference number MFA/PR/2021 dated February 20, 2021, signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Ferdinand Nwonye.
In the press release, the Ministry stated that Nigeria has no territorial ambition to make Benin Republic part of its sovereign territory.
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports in the media that the Republic of Benin is aspiring to be the 37 State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
” The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in the presence of his counterpart from the Republic of Benin granted a Press Interview after a very fruitful meeting between Ministerial delegations from both countries and stated therein “… the President of Benin Republic said he would like the relations between the two countries to be so close as if Benin was the 37th State of Nigeria”.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.
” The Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information.”