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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has arrived back in Abuja following his attendance of the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government meeting held in Rome, Italy.
The summit, hosted on October 15 at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, brought together several African and international leaders to boost cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism, with a special focus on the West African region.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Aqaba Process, inaugurated in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, is jointly chaired by Jordan and Italy and emphasizes prevention, coordination, and closing gaps in counterterrorism operations. This latest high-level event included participation from notable figures such as King Abdullah II, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and presidents from Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo, among others.
Delegates from countries including Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan also attended, alongside security experts and special envoys. The proceedings were held behind closed doors.
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During the meeting, President Tinubu conducted important bilateral talks, notably with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Massad Boulos, U.S. President Trump’s Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs. Additionally, he met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, to deliberate on fostering religious harmony in Nigeria and to counteract false narratives portraying the country as intolerant to religious diversity.
Since its inception, the Aqaba Process has convened 33 meetings aimed at enhancing global and regional counterterrorism collaboration, underscoring President Tinubu’s active role in international security efforts.
