The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja has said that it was quoted out of context in news reports that Republic of Benin is aspiring to be the 37th state of Nigeria.
What the President of Benin Republic said, according to a press statement issued by the ministry; was that “He [President of Republic of Benin] would like the relations between the two countries to be so close as if Benin was the 37th State of Nigeria “.
The ministry further stated that “The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any other country as part of Nigeria”.