President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Rome, Italy, to participate in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting, which will focus on addressing the growing security crisis in West Africa.
The Presidential aircraft landed at the Rome Fiumicino International Airport at 7:20 p.m. local time on Sunday.
The meeting, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, is expected to convene Heads of State and Government, senior intelligence and military officials from several African countries, as well as representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations. The discussions will centre on emerging security threats and the evolving dynamics of terrorism in the region.
Launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Aqaba Process is a counter-terrorism initiative designed to enhance coordination among nations in confronting global security threats. The 2025 edition is being co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government.
This year’s meeting will particularly address the complex security challenges confronting West Africa, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the deepening crime-terror nexus, and the increasing convergence between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Focus Areas
Participants will deliberate on strategies to enhance collaboration in counter-terrorism operations, combat online radicalisation, and disrupt digital networks used for terrorist propaganda and recruitment.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said President Tinubu will also hold bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit. These talks are aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and finding sustainable solutions to the rising security challenges across the subregion.
