- Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Participating in Aqaba Process Summit in Rome
- President Tinubu held bilateral meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs to former U.S. President Donald Trump
- The Rome session focused on strengthening international collaboration in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting held in Rome, Italy, where global leaders gathered to strengthen cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Tinubu departed Nigeria on October 12 for the high-level meeting, which began on October 14.
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According to a statement issued on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s participation reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global 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, the release explained, is a counter-terrorism initiative launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015 and co-chaired by Jordan and the Government of Italy.
The Rome session focused on strengthening international collaboration in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in West Africa.
The summit, which took place on Wednesday, October 15, at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, was attended by King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Other dignitaries included Azouz Nasri, President of Algeria’s Upper House, as well as representatives from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, alongside special envoys and security experts.
“The meeting was held behind closed doors,” the statement added, underscoring the sensitivity of the discussions on global counterterrorism coordination.
Bilateral Engagements
On the sidelines of the summit, President Tinubu held bilateral meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs to former U.S. President Donald Trump, focusing on security and economic cooperation.
He also met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to discuss religious tolerance and unity in Nigeria.
“The meeting addressed the widespread disinformation campaigns that falsely portray the country as intolerant of religious diversity,” the release stated.
Since its inception in 2015, the Aqaba Process has convened 33 meetings across various levels from Heads of State summits to expert sessions built around three pillars: prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counterterrorism.
Tinubu’s participation in the Rome meeting, the statement noted, reflects his administration’s broader security diplomacy and Nigeria’s active engagement in global peace and counterterrorism efforts.
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