Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Counterterrorism Talks

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting in Rome, Italy, where world leaders discussed new strategies to strengthen international cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.

Tinubu left Nigeria on October 12 for the summit, which was held on October 15 at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Nigerian leader’s participation reaffirmed the country’s commitment to global and regional 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, an international counterterrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015 and co-chaired by Italy, focuses on enhancing coordination and operational synergy in the global fight against terrorism, with a particular emphasis on emerging threats in West Africa.

The Rome session brought together several heads of state and government, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Delegations from Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan also participated, alongside security experts and special envoys.

Bilateral Engagements

On the sidelines of the summit, President Tinubu held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Meloni of Italy and Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs to former U.S. President Donald Trump, focusing on security and economic cooperation.

The President also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, in a discussion centered on promoting religious tolerance, national unity, and countering disinformation about Nigeria’s religious diversity.

Since its creation, the Aqaba Process has convened over 30 sessions, including technical expert meetings and high-level summits built on three main pillars — prevention, coordination, and operational collaboration in counterterrorism efforts.

The Presidency said Tinubu’s participation aligns with his administration’s security diplomacy agenda and Nigeria’s continued role in regional peacebuilding and global counterterrorism cooperation.