President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received Chadian leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Thursday at around 2 pm.
The visit marks Déby’s first official trip to Nigeria since Tinubu attended his inauguration in N’Djamena, Chad, on May 23, 2024.
Déby, 42, became Chad’s leader following the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, who was killed by rebels on April 20, 2021, during the Northern Chad offensive. He was immediately appointed head of a Transitional Military Council and initially promised a transition to civilian rule within 18 months.
He later extended the transition period, was sworn in as transitional president in October 2022, and subsequently won the presidential election in May 2024.
Thursday’s meeting came less than a week after Tinubu hosted Prime Minister Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis on March 26, 2026, making Déby the second head of state received by the Nigerian leader within the week.
While details of their discussions were not immediately disclosed, sources indicated that talks likely focused on regional security, especially counter-terrorism efforts in the Lake Chad Basin, shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
Chad has been a key partner in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and IS-affiliated groups in the region. The meeting also coincides with Chad’s recent repositioning within regional security frameworks following its withdrawal from French military agreements in November 2024, and the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from G5 Sahel and ECOWAS.
Tinubu had previously attended Déby’s inauguration in May 2024, and Déby visited Nigeria in July 2023 at the invitation of then-ECOWAS Chairman Tinubu to mediate the Niger political crisis after the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
In January 2026, Déby was awarded the 2026 African Peace Prize for his role in Chad’s political transition and support for Sudanese refugees. In December 2024, Chad’s National Transitional Council granted Déby the rank of Marshal, the country’s highest military honor, making him only the second person to hold the title after his father.
Nigeria and Chad maintain strong historical, cultural, and economic ties, including cross-border trade and cooperation on security matters, particularly regarding terrorism in the Lake Chad region, which has faced insurgency for over a decade from Boko Haram and ISWAP.
