By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Although the report provided opportunity for opening major rarratives regarding economic parasite afflicted on Nigeria by ‘smuggling’ from the neighbouring country, the Ministry came out with a clarifying statement saying Benin is not aspiring to be part of Nigeria.
Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has described as misleading the report that Republic of Benin was ready to be 3th State of the country.
A statement issued in Abuja by Ferdinand Nwonye, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, debunked the media reports as untrue.
In the statement with reference No: MFA/PR/2021/ and dated 20 February 2021, the Mr. Nwonye 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.
“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, 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 Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information.”
Media in Nigeria including The DEFENDER had reported a yet to be confirmed report that the Minister said Republic of Benin was set to be ’37th State’ in the country.
Although the report provided opportunity for opening major rarratives regarding economic parasite afflicted on Nigeria by ‘smuggling’ from the neighbouring country, the Ministry came out with a clarifying statement saying Benin is not aspiring to be part of Nigeria.
The statement my the Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
