President Bola Tinubu on Thursday welcomed Chad’s leader, Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, to the State House in Abuja in a move seen as strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation.
The visit is Déby’s first official trip to Nigeria since Tinubu attended his inauguration in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, in May 2024.
Déby assumed power in 2021 after the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, who was killed while leading troops against rebel forces. He was immediately installed as head of a Transitional Military Council, initially pledging a return to civilian rule within 18 months. The transition timeline was later extended, and he was sworn in as transitional president in October 2022 before securing victory in the May 2024 presidential election.
His meeting with Tinubu comes shortly after the Nigerian president hosted St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew, making it the second high-level diplomatic engagement within a week.
While official details of their discussions were not released, sources suggest that both leaders likely focused on security concerns in the Lake Chad Basin, particularly ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism across the region.
Chad continues to play a vital role in supporting Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and other insurgent groups operating around the Lake Chad area.
