Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Counter-Terrorism Talks in Rome

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting held in Rome, Italy.

The Aqaba Process, established in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, is a global counter-terrorism initiative jointly led by Jordan and Italy. This year’s edition in Rome focused on strengthening international cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in West Africa.

The high-level session took place on Wednesday, October 15, at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome. It was attended by several world leaders, including King Abdullah II, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Also present were Algeria’s Upper House President Azouz Nasri, representatives from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, along with special envoys and security experts. Discussions were held behind closed doors.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Tinubu met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs to U.S. President Donald Trump. He also conferred with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on promoting religious harmony and addressing misinformation portraying Nigeria as intolerant of religious diversity.

Since its inception, the Aqaba Process has held 33 meetings globally, focusing on prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counterterrorism efforts.