Former Minister Urges Nigeria to Match Benin Success at Home

Former Nigerian Minister of Youth, Solomon Dalung, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigeria’s rapid military intervention in the Republic of Benin, describing the operation as swift, precise, and effective. Dalung noted that on December 7, 2025, a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri staged a coup, seizing the national television station, dissolving democratic institutions, and closing the country’s borders. Acting promptly, President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, deployed Nigerian air and ground forces, restoring constitutional order within hours.

While commending Tinubu’s decisive leadership, Dalung criticized the Nigerian government for its delayed responses to domestic security challenges. He questioned why similar urgency has not been applied to combating terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings in areas such as Sambisa Forest, Plateau, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna. Dalung pointed to cases like Brigadier General Musa Uba, who was left vulnerable before being killed by ISWAP, and the abduction of schoolchildren in Niger State, highlighting what he called inconsistent prioritization of national security. He argued that the government’s ability to mobilize effectively abroad suggests that institutional hesitation or political choices, rather than incapacity, contribute to ongoing domestic insecurity.

Dalung also referenced international law, emphasizing that governments unwilling or unable to protect citizens from mass atrocities may invite external intervention. He noted that former President Donald Trump had previously warned of potential foreign involvement if Nigerians could not be safeguarded. In closing, Dalung urged the Nigerian government to apply the same energy and courage shown in Benin to domestic security matters, asserting that national strength is proven not only abroad but also at home.