President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined other world leaders, including Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, at the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting held in Rome, Italy, to address the escalating security challenges facing West Africa and the Sahel region.
The high-level meeting, hosted by King Abdullah and Prime Minister Meloni, brought together leaders from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East to strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism, migration, and regional stability. The Aqaba Process, launched by Jordan in 2015, serves as a global platform for strategic dialogue and collaboration against transnational threats.
President Tinubu, in his remarks, emphasized the urgent need for coordinated international support to tackle terrorism, illegal arms flows, and human trafficking, which he said continue to undermine peace and development in the region. He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability, saying Africa’s prosperity depends on security partnerships built on mutual respect and shared responsibility.
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“We must strengthen intelligence-sharing, border control, and socio-economic development to defeat terrorism and extremism,” Tinubu said. “The world must treat Africa’s security as a global security concern because instability anywhere affects everyone everywhere.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted Europe’s interest in a stable and prosperous Africa, noting that the partnership between the EU and African nations is crucial to addressing root causes of insecurity and irregular migration. She reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to investing in energy, education, and job creation initiatives across the continent.
King Abdullah, who initiated the Aqaba Process, called for a unified approach to combating extremist ideologies and criminal networks exploiting weak governance and poverty in vulnerable regions. He praised African leaders’ determination to find lasting solutions through diplomacy and cooperation.
The meeting also reviewed recent developments in the Sahel, including the rise of armed groups and the need for regional coordination among ECOWAS states. Delegates agreed to deepen collaboration between African and European security agencies, while supporting peacekeeping missions and humanitarian efforts.
President Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with key global partners, focusing on defense cooperation, economic security, and strengthening Nigeria’s role in regional peace initiatives.