President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Rome, Italy, to participate in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting, which focuses on tackling the growing security crisis in West Africa.
The presidential aircraft touched down at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport at about 7:20 p.m. local time on Sunday.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu is expected to join other world leaders, senior military officials, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations for discussions on emerging threats in the region.
“The President will attend the plenary sessions of the Aqaba Process Meeting and will also hold bilateral talks with other leaders on strategies to address rising security challenges across the subregion,” Onanuga said.
The Aqaba Process, a counter-terrorism initiative launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, is co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government.
This year’s edition will address the complex security dynamics affecting West Africa, including the spread of terrorist groups, the growing nexus between crime and terrorism, and the convergence of land-based insurgencies in the Sahel with maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
“The meeting will focus on ways to coordinate global and regional efforts to counter terrorism, combat online radicalisation, and disrupt digital networks that enable extremist propaganda and recruitment,” Onanuga added.
The Aqaba Process serves as a platform for leaders to exchange intelligence insights, strengthen military cooperation, and enhance collective strategies against transnational threats.
President Tinubu is expected to use the opportunity to deepen Nigeria’s security partnerships and push for a unified regional response to terrorism and organised crime in West Africa.
