Professor of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Chris Kwaja says the failed coup in Benin Republic underscores growing fragility across West Africa, driven by the rise of non-state actors, weak state capacity and widespread public frustration with governance.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Monday, he said:

“I was opportune to be part of a team that worked on a document on fragility in Africa. The United States Institute of Peace authored a report focusing on coastal West Africa, and one of the key points was the rise of non-state actors and the inability of states to confront actors with the capacity to undermine state authority".

Kwaja explained that military coups do not happen in isolation but depend on extensive external support networks.

“The military cannot just undertake such coups alone. They need weapons, they need money. Where are these coming from? Certainly, from sources outside the state,” he said.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for the speed of Nigeria’s intervention in support of the government of Benin Republic.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to be commended for the swiftness in supporting the government of Benin. You recall that in 2003 under Obasanjo, São Tomé and Príncipe had a similar challenge and Obasanjo acted.

“In 2017, we saw the Yahya Jammeh–Adama Barrow situation in The Gambia, and Buhari was very active and straightforward in saying democracy must be restored. Tinubu is doing the same now, and that is commendable.”

He emphasised that the deployment of Nigerian troops did not amount to a declaration of war.

“The situation in Benin Republic is not a declaration of war. Deploying troops is basically a show of force from the perspective of military aid to civil power, and it is an attempt to ensure stability across the region. Benin Republic is strategic to Nigeria, and Nigeria acted to ensure the fire next door does not have a contiguous effect.”

Kwaja added that while democratic order had been restored, Benin’s president must now confront deeper issues.

“It is now on the part of President Patrice Talon to look inward and ask: Why did the attempted coup happen? What did I do that made it possible for such people to take on my government?”

He said many West African leaders fuel instability through corrupt and insensitive governance.

“One of the key issues we see today across West Africa is public discontent with the attitude and behaviour of leaders. In the midst of poverty, misery and crisis, you see the opulence and extravagant spending that political leaders continue to exhibit with impunity.”

Turning to wider coup patterns in the region, Kwaja said poor governance continues to lay fertile ground for military takeovers.

“As long as the political class continue to exhibit reckless tendencies in managing public resources, they will lay the foundation for coups in West Africa. The only way to address this is to ensure citizens get value for votes—value for votes means good governance, security and public safety.”

He also described the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Niger State as avoidable, urging a stronger security architecture.

“It is quite unfortunate, and my position is that this is avoidable. Once a government is in place, the primary duty is the protection of lives and property. Government must put in place the necessary architecture for public safety.”

Kwaja said Nigeria must expand its use of technology and improve inter-agency coordination.

“To what extent are we leveraging ICT as an enabler to monitor what is happening? To what extent are we leveraging high-tech fighter jets with precision air-to-surface capability? The Armed Forces launched a Joint Doctrine Centre recently, which is central to collaboration and synergy. Now that the former CDS who launched it is Minister of Defence, he needs to implement his vision.”

He concluded that Nigeria’s security system must also address structural issues.

“We need to look at what the building blocks will be for decentralisation of policing. The federal policing system we have is not enough to guarantee public safety in Nigeria.”

(AriseNews TV, but headline rejigged)

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