President Bola Tinubu on Sunday departed Abuja for Rome, Italy, to take part in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level meeting aimed at addressing the growing security challenges in West Africa.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who explained that the Aqaba Process is a counter-terrorism initiative established by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015. The programme is co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian government and is focused on tackling the worsening security situation across West Africa.
According to Onanuga, the meeting, scheduled to begin on October 14, will bring together heads of state and government, high-ranking intelligence and military officials from African nations, as well as representatives from intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations. The gathering will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss emerging security threats in the region and to develop coordinated strategies for a stronger collective response.
“The meeting, which will begin on October 14, will bring together heads of state and government, senior intelligence and military officials from African countries, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to discuss the evolving security challenges in West Africa,” Onanuga stated.
He further noted that the Aqaba Process “recognises the complex security challenges confronting West Africa, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing crime-terror nexus and the increasing overlap between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and the maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.”
During the summit, participants are expected to share insights on the current state of security across the region, exchange intelligence, and build stronger partnerships between local, regional, and international stakeholders to confront cross-border threats. Discussions will also centre on how to curb terrorism both on land and at sea, as well as how to combat the spread of online radicalisation and the digital networks that aid terrorist propaganda and recruitment.
In addition to taking part in the plenary sessions, President Tinubu is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to explore possible collaborations and strategies for addressing the escalating security challenges in West Africa and beyond.
Accompanying the President on the trip are the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; and several senior government officials.
What You Should Know
The Aqaba Process, launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015, is a global initiative designed to enhance international cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism.
The upcoming meeting in Rome, co-hosted by Jordan and Italy, will focus on strengthening regional security frameworks and fostering intelligence sharing among West African nations to address rising terrorist threats and maritime insecurity.
