President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after participating in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting held in Rome, Italy.
The high-level meeting, co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of Italy, focused on strengthening regional and international collaboration against terrorism and violent extremism, especially in West Africa.
The event, held on October 15 at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, brought together global leaders committed to advancing counter-terrorism cooperation.
Among the attendees were King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Other dignitaries included Azouz Nasri, President of Algeria’s Upper House, as well as delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan. Several special envoys and security experts were also present.
According to the State House, the meeting was held behind closed doors to allow for frank discussions on tackling terrorism and its root causes.
On the sidelines of the conference, President Tinubu held bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs to U.S. President Donald Trump.
The discussions reportedly focused on deepening security, trade, and energy partnerships between Nigeria and both countries.
President Tinubu also met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to discuss religious harmony in Nigeria.
During the meeting, the President addressed disinformation campaigns that have portrayed Nigeria as intolerant of religious diversity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting peace and coexistence among all faiths.
The Aqaba Process, launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II, has held 33 meetings at various levels, from Heads of State summits to expert sessions.
The initiative is anchored on three pillars: prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in global counter-terrorism efforts.
President Tinubu’s participation highlights Nigeria’s renewed commitment to multilateral security partnerships and international cooperation against extremist threats.
