Tinubu Welcomes Chad President Déby In Abuja [Photos]

According to Ireporter Online, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday welcomed the President of the Republic of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the State House in Abuja. Déby’s arrival at around 2 p.m. marked his first official visit to Nigeria since Tinubu attended his inauguration in N’Djamena on May 23, 2024.

The 42-year-old Chadian leader assumed office following the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, who was killed during a military operation in Northern Chad on April 20, 2021. Déby initially led a Transitional Military Council, pledging a return to civilian rule within 18 months. This transition period was later extended, culminating in his swearing-in as transitional president in October 2022 and his subsequent victory in the May 2024 presidential election.

Thursday’s engagement came just a week after Tinubu hosted Terrance Drew on March 26, 2026, making Déby the second foreign leader received by the Nigerian President within one week. While details of their discussions remain undisclosed, presidential sources indicated that the talks were expected to focus on regional security, particularly counter-terrorism efforts in the Lake Chad Basin—a region spanning Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon that continues to face insurgent threats.

Chad is considered a strategic partner in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State-affiliated groups. The visit also occurs amid shifting alliances in the Sahel region, following Chad’s withdrawal from French military agreements in November 2024 and the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from both G5 Sahel and ECOWAS, raising concerns over regional security cooperation.

Tinubu and Déby share a longstanding cordial relationship. The Nigerian President had attended Déby’s inauguration in 2024 and previously invited him to Nigeria in July 2023 to mediate the Niger Republic crisis following a military coup. Déby was awarded the African Peace Prize in January 2026 for his role in Chad’s political transition and support for Sudanese refugees and was elevated to the rank of Marshal in December 2024, becoming only the second recipient of the nation’s highest military honor.

Nigeria and Chad maintain deep historical, cultural, and economic ties, including cross-border trade and joint security initiatives. The Lake Chad Basin has remained a center of insurgency for more than a decade, with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province continuing attacks across the region. As of press time, the meeting between President Tinubu and President Déby was ongoing.