President Bola Tinubu is set to leave Abuja for Rome, Italy, to join other world leaders at the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting scheduled to begin on October 14.
The high-level gathering, jointly led by the Jordanian and Italian governments, will bring together African leaders, top military and intelligence officials, as well as representatives from international and regional organizations to address the worsening security situation across West Africa.
Launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Aqaba Process serves as a platform for global cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism. This year’s discussions will focus on emerging threats in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions — including the growing links between terrorist groups, organized crime, and maritime piracy.
According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, participants will share intelligence insights, propose new strategies to tackle terrorism both on land and at sea, and explore coordinated efforts to curb online radicalisation and the digital tools used for extremist propaganda.
President Tinubu is also expected to hold one-on-one meetings with other heads of state on the sidelines of the summit to strengthen regional collaboration on security and stability.
Accompanying the president on the trip are Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, among other senior officials.
