Nigeria At Risk If Benin Falls Into Chaos, Don Warns

A lecturer in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Nile University, Abuja, Abdulrazak Ibrahim, has warned that Nigeria could face significant security and socio-economic risks if instability escalated from the attempted coup in Benin Republic.

Ibrahim stressed that the situation directly threatens Nigeria’s national interest.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, the Political Scientist said Nigeria must remain alert, noting that unrest in Benin Republic could trigger a chain reaction with serious domestic consequences.

He noted that millions of Nigerians currently live and work in the Benin Republic, stressing that any escalation could spark large-scale displacement into Nigeria.

Such an influx, he argued, would strain an economy already grappling with inflation, unemployment, and weakened purchasing power, while also placing intense pressure on social services.

According to Ibrahim, Nigeria is already dealing with multiple internal security challenges, and the last thing the country can afford is instability spilling across its borders.

“A crisis in the Benin Republic would affect Nigeria’s economy and the quality of life,” he said, adding that the national interest at stake goes beyond diplomacy and directly affects citizens’ everyday lives.

He also highlighted the wider regional context, pointing to Jihadist activities across the Burkina Faso corridor, which has increasingly threatened the stability of neighbouring states.

Protecting territorial integrity, he said, is central to every country’s national interest, cautioning that Nigeria cannot ignore a growing security vacuum next door.

Ibrahim maintained that Nigeria, as a regional leader, has both a responsibility and a strategic imperative to respond swiftly.

Ibrahim said this likely influenced President Bola Tinubu’s rapid reaction to the attempted coup, emphasising that leadership at the regional level requires proactive engagement to prevent broader destabilisation.

He cautioned that Nigeria must not allow the situation to escalate, as the consequences would reverberate across its borders, economy, and security landscape.