Nigeria, Dec. 9 -- The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubu's request to deploy Nigerian troops to Benin Republic to help restore peace and defend democratic institutions threatened by an attempted military takeover in the neighbouring West African country.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the approval after the lawmakers adopted the request through a voice vote at the committee of the whole.

The request was however, not subjected to debate. Mr Akpabio simply put it to a vote, and the majority supported it before the Senate reverted to plenary.

The approval followed a letter from President Tinubu seeking legislative consent, in line with constitutional requirements. The president is mandated to obtain Natio...