ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja today for Rome, Italy, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-Level Meeting, a high-level security summit focused on addressing the growing threat of terrorism and organised crime in West Africa.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the meeting, which begins on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, will bring together Heads of State, senior intelligence and military officials from across Africa, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations.
The discussions will focus on the evolving security landscape in West Africa, particularly the rise of extremist networks, maritime piracy, and the increasing intersection between terrorism and organised crime.
Launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Aqaba Process is a counter-terrorism initiative co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government.
It provides a global platform for leaders to exchange intelligence, share security insights, and coordinate regional responses to emerging threats.
The statement from the presidency noted that this year’s edition “will recognise the complex security challenges confronting West Africa, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing crime-terror nexus, and the overlap between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.”
In addition to counter-terrorism strategies, the meeting will explore ways to combat online radicalisation, disrupt digital propaganda networks, and strengthen intelligence-sharing mechanisms among participating nations.
Emphasis will also be placed on developing coordinated approaches to tackling threats across both land and sea.
Tinubu is expected to address the plenary session, outlining Nigeria’s commitment to regional security cooperation and collective defence mechanisms.
The president will also hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders on the sidelines of the event to discuss strategies for enhancing subregional stability and resilience.
The Nigerian delegation will include Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, among other senior officials.
The Aqaba Process has become one of the leading international frameworks for security dialogue, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, with its emphasis on fostering collaboration among nations confronting transnational threats.
