President Bola Tinubu arrived Rome on Tuesday, October 15, 2025, to participate in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting, a critical counter-terrorism summit co-hosted by Jordan and Italy, addressing West Africa’s escalating security challenges, including Boko Haram’s resurgence, Sahel-based insurgencies, and Gulf of Guinea piracy.
The forum, initiated in 2015 by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, aims to bolster global cooperation against violent extremism and organized crime.
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Tinubu, who arrived at Fiumicino Airport on October 12 at 7:20 p.m. local time, is joined by key officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and NIA Director-General Mohammed Mohammed.
Nigeria seeks to secure regional alliances and intelligence-sharing frameworks to counter threats displacing millions and destabilizing the Sahel, making this summit a linchpin for multilateral support.
The two-day meeting, starting October 15, features plenary sessions and bilateral talks where Tinubu will push for collaborative strategies to disrupt terrorist financing and online radicalization.
A presidential aide emphasized the talks’ importance, stating, “Global security demands collective action, and Nigeria is at the forefront.”
The Aqaba Process has previously catalyzed intelligence pacts and joint training, offering hope for tangible outcomes like enhanced EU-Africa funding for border security.
West Africa faces a 30% surge in attacks spilling from the Sahel, threatening coastal stability. Tinubu’s agenda includes maritime security discussions to protect Nigeria’s piracy-hit Gulf of Guinea, a global economic chokepoint.
At home, his administration navigates domestic reforms, including recent clemency for 82 inmates, but security remains paramount.
As the summit wraps, Tinubu aims to return with strengthened partnerships, potentially reshaping Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy. Success in Rome could signal robust leadership amid growing regional instability.
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