NSA, Defence Minister, CDS Attend High-Level Security Talks as Tinubu Hosts Chadian President Déby

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday received the President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, in audience at the State House, Abuja, in what appeared to be a high-level diplomatic engagement focused on regional cooperation and security matters.

The meeting, held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, brought together top Nigerian government and security officials, underscoring the strategic importance of the visit amid ongoing security challenges across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region.

Among senior officials present at the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa; and other top government functionaries.

President Tinubu’s engagement with President Déby is seen as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between Nigeria and Chad, particularly in the areas of defence cooperation, border security, counter-terrorism operations and regional stability.

Nigeria and Chad share longstanding diplomatic and military collaboration, especially under the framework of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which has played a critical role in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

Although official details of the discussions were not immediately disclosed as of press time, analysts say the meeting is likely to centre on joint security coordination, intelligence sharing and renewed efforts to confront transnational threats affecting both countries and neighbouring states.

The presence of top defence and national security officials at the meeting further suggests that regional security and defence partnerships formed a major part of the deliberations.

President Déby’s visit comes at a time when West and Central African countries are deepening consultations over terrorism, cross-border crime, arms trafficking and the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the sub-region.

The meeting also highlights Nigeria’s continued diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries as President Tinubu’s administration seeks to reinforce regional solidarity and collective security mechanisms.