President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting held in Rome, Italy.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the gathering brought together world leaders to strengthen international cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism, with a special focus on West Africa.
The Aqaba Process, launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, is a global counterterrorism platform co-chaired by Jordan and Italy. The Rome session took place on Wednesday, October 15, at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, and was attended by several heads of state, including King Abdullah II, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Also present were Azouz Nasri, President of Algeria’s Upper House, along with representatives from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, Uzbekistan, and other nations. Security experts and special envoys joined the discussions, which were held behind closed doors.
During his time in Rome, President Tinubu held bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs to former U.S. President Donald Trump. He also met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, where they discussed the need for religious harmony and addressed misleading narratives portraying Nigeria as intolerant of diversity.
Since its creation, the Aqaba Process has convened 33 sessions across different levels, from high-level summits to technical meetings. The initiative continues to advance its three key goals prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in global counterterrorism strategies.
As reported, President Tinubu’s participation in the Rome meeting underscored Nigeria’s commitment to working with global partners in the collective fight against terrorism and insecurity.
