President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received his Chadian counterpart, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the State House in Abuja, in a visit expected to strengthen bilateral ties and address pressing regional concerns.
Déby’s arrival at the Presidential Villa marks his first official visit to Nigeria since Tinubu attended his inauguration in N’Djamena in May 2024.
The meeting also makes him the second foreign leader hosted by the Nigerian president within a week, following the recent visit of St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Terrance Drew.
Although details of the closed-door talks were not immediately disclosed, sources within the Presidency indicated that discussions are likely to centre on regional security, particularly the fight against insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
Nigeria and Chad have maintained a longstanding partnership in tackling terrorism, especially against extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, which continue to operate across the borders of countries in the region.
Déby, who rose to power in 2021 following the death of his father, former President Idriss Déby Itno, initially led a transitional military government before securing electoral victory in 2024.
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His leadership has since been marked by efforts to stabilise Chad internally and reposition it within the regional security framework.
The timing of the visit is also significant, coming amid shifting alliances in the Sahel region, including Chad’s withdrawal from French military agreements and broader changes involving neighbouring countries.
Nigeria and Chad share deep historical, economic, and cultural ties, with cross-border trade and joint military operations forming key pillars of their relationship.
As of the time of filing this report, both leaders were still engaged in discussions, with expectations that outcomes from the meeting could further enhance cooperation in addressing security challenges and fostering regional stability.