ROME, ITALY – October 13, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Rome, the capital of Italy, ahead of the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting, a key summit addressing the growing security challenges in West Africa.
The Presidential airplane touched down at Rome Fiumicino International Airport at approximately 7:20 PM local time on Sunday evening.
Scheduled to commence on Tuesday, the meeting will convene Heads of State and Government, senior intelligence and military officials from African nations, alongside representatives from various intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The focus will be on the complex and evolving security threats facing the West African region.
The Aqaba Process, launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, is a counter-terrorism initiative co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government. This edition of the summit specifically highlights the multifaceted security issues in West Africa, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing nexus between organized crime and terrorism, and the increasing interconnection between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Key agenda items include strategies for enhanced coordination to combat terrorism, counter online radicalization, and disrupt digital platforms used for terrorist propaganda and recruitment.
In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, noted that President Tinubu will participate fully in the plenary sessions of the Aqaba Process meeting. Additionally, the President is set to engage in bilateral talks with fellow leaders to explore collaborative measures aimed at addressing the escalating security threats across West Africa.
This high-level gathering underscores Nigeria’s active role in regional security diplomacy and its commitment to fostering peace and stability across the subregion.
