Rome – Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu landed in Rome, Italy, at approximately 7:20 p.m. local time Sunday, ahead of the crucial Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting tackling escalating security challenges plaguing West Africa.
“In addition to attending the plenary sessions of the Aqaba meeting, President Tinubu will hold bilateral talks with other leaders to explore ways of addressing the rising security challenges across the subregion,” stated Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Scheduled to commence Tuesday, the high-profile gathering unites African Heads of State and Government, senior intelligence and military officials alongside representatives intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations deliberating evolving regional security threats.
Launched 2015 by Jordan’s King Abdullah II co-chaired Italy government, Aqaba Process constitutes influential multilateral counter-terrorism platform promoting global unity countering violent extremism stability vulnerable regions.
“This year’s session will examine growing threats West Africa including spread terrorist networks crime-terror nexus overlap land-based Sahel insurgencies maritime piracy Gulf Guinea,” Presidential statement noted.
Participants exchange assessments West Africa’s current security landscape fostering regional international collaboration addressing cross-border challenges developing strategies counter terror threats land sea combat online radicalisation disrupt digital networks facilitating extremist propaganda recruitment.
President Tinubu accompanied Minister Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar Minister State Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu Director-General National Intelligence Agency Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed other senior officials.
Aqaba Process recognises complex West Africa security challenges including expansion terrorist networks growing crime-terror nexus increasing overlap land-based Sahel terrorism maritime Gulf Guinea piracy Bayo Onanuga explained.
Meeting expected yield practical strategies enhance regional intelligence sharing coordination efforts counter online extremism Tinubu’s participation underscores Nigeria’s commitment collaborative security solutions West Africa’s stability.
