Nigeria will always be there for the Republic of Chad, as we are not only neighbours but brothers, President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged.
The President spoke at State House, Abuja, Tuesday, while receiving a Special Envoy from His Excellency, President Idris Deby Itno of Chad, adding that Nigeria appreciates the support she was getting in tackling Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorism from the neighbouring country.
Chad is the host country of the five member Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) based in Ndjamena.
“We are aware of the problem Chad has with Libya, which supports some Chadian rebels, trying to destabilize the country. The instability in Libya after 42 years of Muammar Gaddafi affects all of us in the Sahel region. From Mauritania to Central Africa Republic, Gaddafi recruited gunmen, who learnt to do nothing else than to kill. When the former Libyan Leader was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms, and are wreaking havoc all over the place now,” President Buhari said.
Stressing that Nigeria was grateful to Chad for the diverse kinds of support given to combat the Boko Haram insurgency, the President assured that Nigeria world always back up Chad in its local and international aspirations.
The Special Envoy, Mr Amine Abba-Sidick, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Chadians Abroad, conveyed a message from his President, whom he said sent fraternal greetings to President Buhari and Nigerians in general.