President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received the President of the Republic of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the State House, Abuja.
Déby arrived at about 2 pm, marking 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 by rebels on April 20, 2021, while leading troops during the Northern Chad offensive.
He was subsequently proclaimed leader of a Transitional Military Council, initially promising a return to civilian rule within 18 months.
However, the transition period was later extended, and Déby was sworn in as transitional president in October 2022 before securing victory in the May 2024 presidential election.
The meeting came barely 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.
As of the time of filing this report, details of the bilateral discussions had yet to be made public.
However, sources within the Presidency indicated that the talks were expected to focus on regional security, particularly the fight against terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin.
The region, shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, has remained a hotspot for insurgent activities.
Chad is considered a strategic partner in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts against Boko Haram and Islamic State-affiliated groups operating in the area.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and President Mahamat Idris Deby Itno of the Republic of Chad, during the Chadian President’s visit to Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
The meeting also comes amid shifting alliances in the Sahel region, following Chad’s withdrawal from French military agreements in November 2024.
The development was compounded by the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the G5 Sahel and ECOWAS, raising fresh concerns about regional security cooperation.
Tinubu had attended Déby’s inauguration in May 2024, underscoring the cordial relationship between the two leaders.
Déby had earlier visited Nigeria in July 2023 at Tinubu’s invitation, then Chairman of ECOWAS, to help mediate in the Niger Republic crisis following the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
In January 2026, the Chadian leader was awarded the African Peace Prize for his role in managing his country’s political transition and supporting Sudanese refugees.
He was also elevated to the rank of Marshal, the highest military honour in Chad, in December 2024, becoming only the second recipient after his father.
Nigeria and Chad share longstanding historical, cultural, and economic ties, including robust cross-border trade and joint security concerns.
The Lake Chad Basin has battled insurgency for over a decade, with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province carrying out attacks across the region.
As of press time, the meeting between Tinubu and Déby was still ongoing,