Benin Republic Ready To Become Nigeria’s ‘37th State’ – Minister Reveals

Nigerian Foreign Affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama has said the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, has expressed readiness for his country to be part of Nigeria.

According to a report by Daily Trust, Onyeama, who stated this shortly after a close door meeting with Beninoise Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Aurélien Agbenonci, said the Beninoise president gave the offer when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari, a few weeks back.

In his words… 

“The President of Benin said as far as they are concerned, they want (not just saying it like that) but in reality, Benin should be the 37th state of Nigeria”.

“We should really be one. They charged us to come together at ministerial level, to work out a framework for a sustainable relationship.”

Speaking further, Onyeama said, both presidents also discussed agreements between the two countries on how best to put issues of smuggling to an end, as a follow up to the presidents’ meeting.