LAGOS FEBRUARY 21^ST (NEWSRANGERS)-The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has debunked the news making the rounds that he (Onyeama) said Benin Republic is aspiring to be part of Nigeria.

Recall that media had reported that Onyeama said the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, had expressed readiness for his country to be part of Nigeria.

Onyeama was reported to have 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.

However, the minister has in a statement on Saturday 20th February made available to TheNigeriaLawyer described the report as misleading

“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 37th 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 statement stated in part

The statement added that Onyeama was quoted of context.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information.” the statement concluded