Nigeria has donated 40 trucks of petroleum products and US$2 million to its northern neighbour, Chad, which is recovering from a recent rebel attack aimed at toppling President Idriss Deby, Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’Adua announced the donation in the capital city of Abuja on Monday, saying it was aimed at helping to restore normalcy to Chad. Responding to a message from President Deby, seeking Nigeria’s leadership in resolving the conflicts in the sub-region, Yar’Adua also said Nigeria would soon initiate comprehensive peace proposals towards finding a lasting solution to the lingering conflict between Sudan and Chad. “Nigeria will look at the possibility of initiating a comprehensive peace settlement involving Sudan, Chad and the entire sub-region. We recognise that the problem of Chad cannot be divorced from the situation in Darfur, so we will work for a solution together,” he said. President Yar’Adua said Nigeria’s concern at the attempt to overthrow the legitimate government of Chad prompted the dispatch of a high-powered solidarity delegation to President Deby, and stated that the country would never support any attempt to forcefully overthrow constituted governments. Earlier, President Deby’s Special Envoy and Minister of Infrastructure of Chad, Mr. Adoum Youousmi, said the Chadian leader wanted Nigeria to lead the peace effort to restore peace to the sub-region. He expressed his country’s gratitude to Nigeria for its long history of assistance and support. Panapress.
