President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received the President of the Republic of Chad, Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the State House, Abuja, at about 2 pm.
The visit marks Déby’s first official trip to Nigeria since Tinubu attended his inauguration in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, on May 23, 2024.
Déby, 42, assumed leadership of Chad following the death of his father, President Idriss Déby Itno, who was killed by rebels on April 20, 2021, while commanding troops on the frontline during the Northern Chad offensive.
The younger Déby was immediately proclaimed leader of a Transitional Military Council and promised a transition to civilian rule within 18 months.
However, he later extended the transition period and was sworn in as transitional president in October 2022 before winning the presidential election in May 2024.
Thursday’s meeting comes barely a week after Tinubu received Prime Minister Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis on March 26, 2026, making Déby the second head of state hosted by the Nigerian leader within one week.
Details of the discussions between the two leaders were not immediately available.
However, sources close to the Presidency indicated that the talks were likely to focus on regional security, particularly efforts to combat terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin, which is shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
Chad has remained a key partner in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State-affiliated groups operating in the Lake Chad region.
The meeting also comes at a time when Chad has been repositioning itself within the regional security architecture following its withdrawal from French military agreements in November 2024, as well as the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the G5 Sahel and ECOWAS.
Tinubu attended Déby’s inauguration in May 2024.
Déby had earlier visited Nigeria in July 2023 at the invitation of then-ECOWAS Chairman Tinubu to mediate in the Niger political crisis following the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
In January 2026, Déby was awarded the 2026 African Peace Prize for his role in managing Chad’s political transition and supporting Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
In December 2024, Chad’s National Transitional Council elevated Déby to the rank of Marshal, the country’s highest military honour, making him only the second person to receive the title after his father.
Nigeria and Chad share longstanding historical, cultural, and economic ties, including significant cross-border trade and joint security concerns, particularly regarding the activities of terrorist groups in the Lake Chad region.
The Lake Chad Basin has faced insurgency for over a decade, with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province carrying out attacks across Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
As of the time of filing this report, the meeting between Tinubu and Déby was ongoing.
The PUNCH