President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting held in Rome, Italy.
Okay News reports that the meeting brought together world leaders to strengthen cooperation in the global fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
Tinubu had left Nigeria on October 12 to participate in the summit, which officially began on October 14. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s visit reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and international security partnerships.
“President Bola Tinubu returns to Abuja today after participating in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting in Rome, Italy,” the statement read.
The Aqaba Process was launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan to promote global collaboration on counterterrorism efforts. The latest edition, co-hosted by Italy and Jordan, focused on improving coordination among nations to address security threats, particularly in West Africa.
The high-level session, held at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, featured several world leaders including King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Other dignitaries present included Azouz Nasri, President of Algeria’s Upper House, and delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, alongside special envoys and counterterrorism experts.
The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, focused on strengthening regional cooperation and closing operational gaps in global counterterrorism strategies.
Bilateral Meetings
On the sidelines of the summit, President Tinubu met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss bilateral relations, security collaboration, and trade opportunities between Nigeria and Italy.
He also held talks with Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, as well as with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
According to Onanuga, the meeting with the Vatican emphasized Nigeria’s dedication to promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among diverse religious groups.
“The discussions also focused on addressing misinformation that falsely portrays Nigeria as intolerant of religious diversity,” the statement noted.
Since its creation in 2015, the Aqaba Process has convened over 30 sessions aimed at fostering international coordination on counterterrorism. Its three guiding principles are prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in response to terrorism.
Tinubu’s participation in the Rome meeting, according to the Presidency, reflects his administration’s ongoing commitment to strengthening global partnerships and advancing peace and security across Africa and beyond.
