President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja following his participation in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting held in Rome, Italy, where global leaders convened to enhance international cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.
Tinubu had departed Nigeria on October 12 for the high-level summit, which commenced on October 14.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the trip reaffirmed Nigeria’s ongoing 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, according to the release, is “a counter-terrorism initiative launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015” and “co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of Italy.”
The Rome session focused on “strengthening regional and international collaboration in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, with particular attention to West Africa.”
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The meeting, which was held on October 15 at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, was attended by several world leaders, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Other dignitaries present included Azouz Nasri, President of Algeria’s Upper House, and delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, along with security experts and special envoys.
“The meeting was held behind closed doors,” the statement noted, emphasizing the confidential nature of discussions centered on global counterterrorism coordination.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Tinubu met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos. Both meetings reportedly focused on security and economic partnerships.
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He also held a session with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, where they discussed religious tolerance and the importance of fostering unity in Nigeria.
“President Tinubu also met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to discuss religious harmony in Nigeria. The meeting addressed the widespread disinformation campaigns that falsely portray the country as intolerant of religious diversity,” the statement added.
Since its establishment in 2015, the Aqaba Process has hosted 33 meetings across different levels — from heads of state summits to technical expert gatherings — built on three major pillars: prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counterterrorism efforts.
Tinubu’s participation in the Rome meeting, according to the Presidency, aligns with his administration’s broader diplomatic and security agenda, as well as Nigeria’s continued role in promoting international peace and counterterrorism collaboration.
