President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after participating in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting held in Rome, Italy. The meeting, which took place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, brought together world leaders to strengthen regional and international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
The Aqaba Process, launched in 2015 by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, is a global counter-terrorism initiative co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of Italy. This year’s summit, hosted at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, placed special emphasis on tackling the persistent threat of terrorism across Africa, particularly in West Africa.
President Tinubu joined several heads of state and senior officials at the closed-door meeting, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Algeria’s Upper House President Azouz Nasri, as well as delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, also participated.
The deliberations centered on enhancing intelligence-sharing, improving military coordination, and investing in deradicalization programs to curb extremist ideologies. The meeting reaffirmed the global commitment to a unified approach in countering terrorism, emphasizing that no region can achieve sustainable peace in isolation.
READ ALSO: Senate Confirms Professor Joash Amupitan as New INEC Chairman
During the summit, President Tinubu underscored Nigeria’s determination to strengthen multilateral cooperation in tackling the roots of terrorism — poverty, illiteracy, and governance challenges. He called for stronger international partnerships that support regional security initiatives such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the African Union’s peace and security frameworks.
On the sidelines of the Aqaba meeting, the Nigerian leader held a bilateral discussion with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni focused on migration management, energy cooperation, and Italy’s continued investment in Nigeria’s defence and infrastructure sectors.
President Tinubu also met with Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs to U.S. President Donald Trump, to explore new areas of collaboration in counterterrorism operations and regional security support.
In addition, the President conferred with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, where discussions revolved around promoting interfaith harmony and countering misinformation about Nigeria’s religious diversity. Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to religious freedom and tolerance, emphasizing that Nigeria’s strength lies in its multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition.
Since its inception, the Aqaba Process has convened 33 meetings across various continents, serving as a vital platform for governments and security experts to exchange ideas and coordinate strategies against global terrorism. Its core pillars—prevention, coordination, and operational effectiveness—remain central to addressing the evolving security threats facing nations worldwide.
President Tinubu’s participation in the Rome summit reaffirms Nigeria’s active role in global peace and security dialogues and underscores his administration’s commitment to promoting regional stability through diplomacy, collaboration, and sustained international engagement.