President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday, October 12, for Rome, Italy, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting.
The high-level summit, scheduled to begin on October 14, will focus on addressing the worsening security situation in West Africa.
The meeting will bring together Heads of State, senior intelligence and military officials from across Africa, alongside representatives of international and regional organisations.
The goal is to strengthen cooperation and develop strategies to combat terrorism, piracy, and cross-border crimes.
According to a statement from the Presidency, participants will exchange detailed assessments of the current security landscape in West Africa and foster stronger collaboration among regional and global partners.
“The meeting will also focus on countering terror threats both on land and at sea,” the statement said.
The sessions will feature discussions on tackling online radicalisation and dismantling digital networks that enable terrorist propaganda and recruitment.
In addition to attending the plenary sessions, President Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral talks with other world leaders to explore practical ways of addressing insecurity and promoting regional stability.
Among the key issues to be discussed are the growing link between terrorism and organised crime, and the overlap between Sahel-based insurgent activities and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by senior government officials, including the Minister of Defence, Bianca Odumegwu–Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Abubakar, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed.
The Aqaba Process, launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, is a global counter-terrorism initiative co-chaired by Jordan and Italy. It seeks to enhance coordination among nations facing similar threats, especially across Africa and the Middle East.
The initiative underscores the shared understanding that terrorism and insecurity in West Africa have far-reaching global implications, particularly as extremist groups expand their operations through online platforms and illicit trade networks.
President Tinubu’s participation is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s role as a regional security leader and reaffirm his administration’s commitment to international cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
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