President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received the President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the State House in Abuja.
The visit marks Déby’s first official trip to Nigeria since Tinubu attended his inauguration in N’Djamena on May 23, 2024.
Déby, who assumed power following the death of his father, former President Idriss Déby Itno, in 2021, initially led a transitional military government before winning the country’s presidential election in May 2024.
Although details of the closed-door meeting were not immediately disclosed, sources indicated that discussions were likely centred on regional security, particularly efforts to tackle insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
The region, which includes Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, has faced persistent attacks from extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Chad remains a key partner in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, with both countries collaborating on security operations and intelligence sharing.
The meeting comes shortly after Tinubu hosted the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Drew, highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing diplomatic engagements with global leaders.
It also follows recent shifts in regional alliances, including Chad’s withdrawal from French military agreements and broader changes involving Sahel countries’ relations with regional blocs.
Nigeria and Chad share longstanding ties rooted in cross-border trade, cultural links, and joint security concerns, particularly in the fight against insurgency in the Lake Chad region.
As of the time of reporting, the meeting between both leaders was still ongoing.
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