President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja following his participation in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting in Rome, Italy, where global leaders convened to bolster counter-terrorism efforts with a sharp focus on West Africa's escalating security threats.
The high-level summit, held on October 15 at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, underscored the Aqaba Process—a counter-terrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015 and co-chaired by Jordan and Italy.
This Rome edition emphasized regional and international collaboration against terrorism and violent extremism, drawing heads of state from Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo, alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Algerian Upper House President Azouz Nasri, and delegations from Côte d'Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan.
The closed-door discussions centered on the initiative's three pillars: prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counterterrorism.
Tinubu's agenda extended beyond the plenary sessions. On the sidelines, he engaged in bilateral talks with Prime Minister Meloni to explore joint strategies for subregional stability and met with Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs to U.S. President Donald Trump, to discuss enhanced security partnerships.
In a notable diplomatic outreach, the president held discussions with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, addressing religious harmony in Nigeria and countering disinformation narratives that misrepresent the country's tolerance for religious diversity.
Since its inception, the Aqaba Process has facilitated 33 meetings across various levels, evolving into a critical forum for addressing overlapping security challenges in vulnerable regions.
Tinubu's involvement aligns with Nigeria's ongoing push to combat banditry, insurgency, and transnational threats, building on recent military gains and international alliances.
Upon his arrival, the presidency highlighted the trip's outcomes as pivotal for strengthening Nigeria's role in global counter-terrorism architecture.
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted in a statement that the engagements reinforce President Tinubu's commitment to a secure and prosperous West Africa.
