The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed that there was no plan to make neighbouring Republic of Benin the 37th State of Nigeria. This was revealed in a statement titled, ‘Republic of Benin Is Not Aspiring To Be Part Of Nigeria’. This follows articles published by news outfits that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama said President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon expressed readiness of his country to become Nigeria’s 37th state. In the statement the ministry’s spokesman, Ferdinand Nwonye, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs was quoted out of context. Furthermore, he explained that Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria. In addition, he urged the general public to disregard such wrong information.
