By Admin
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the Republic of Benin is not aspiring to become Nigeria’s 37th state, contrary to media reports.
Reports have emanated from the media that the tiny West African country had agreed to join Nigeria becoming one of the state’s.
However, in a press release signed by the spokesperson of the ministry, Mr. Ferdinand Nwonye, the Ministry denied the report.
Nwonye said: “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.”
