Republic of Benin is not aspiring to be part of Nigeria — Onyeama

The federal government of Nigeria has debunked the report in some media stating the Republic of Benin was planning to join Nigeria as the 37 state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Reacting to the reports, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in a statement stressed that Nigeria has no territorial ambition, adding that” Nigeria has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.”

The statement signed by Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs and made available to journalist on Saturday, said 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”.

It explains that the foreign minister, “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 Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information”. The minister stated.