Tinubu Heads to Rome for Aqaba Security Summit on West Africa’s Terror Threat

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Sunday, October 12, depart Abuja for Rome, Italy, to participate in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting — a high-level global security dialogue that will place special emphasis on the deepening security crisis in West Africa.

The meeting, which is scheduled to begin on October 14, will bring together world leaders, security chiefs, and representatives of international organisations to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts and explore new frameworks for regional and global collaboration.

Aqaba Process Meeting in Rome: A Global Front Against Terrorism

The Aqaba Process, launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015, is a joint initiative of Jordan and the Italian Government aimed at fostering cooperation and coordination among nations facing evolving terrorist threats. The Rome session will gather Heads of State, intelligence and military officials from across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East to examine current security realities in the West African region.

Security crisis in West Africa has worsened in recent years, with the spread of extremist movements, the merging of criminal and terror networks, and the troubling overlap between land-based insurgencies in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. These issues have not only threatened stability within national borders but have also disrupted trade, displaced communities, and challenged regional peacekeeping operations.

During the meeting, participants are expected to share critical intelligence, develop joint strategies, and strengthen partnerships to counter both land and maritime terror threats. The gathering underscores a growing global recognition that West Africa’s security is deeply interconnected with broader international peace and economic stability.

Aqaba

Security crisis in West Africa is no longer confined to individual states — it has become a regional concern requiring collective response. The Aqaba meeting will dedicate sessions to addressing the cross-border movement of armed groups, weapons proliferation, and the use of digital platforms for radicalisation and recruitment.

The discussions will also highlight the urgent need to combat online radicalisation and dismantle digital networks used for spreading extremist propaganda. Participants aim to map out coordinated countermeasures that leverage technology, intelligence sharing, and law enforcement collaboration among affected nations.

President Tinubu’s attendance signifies Nigeria’s continued commitment to multilateral security cooperation and the nation’s pivotal role in stabilising the subregion. In addition to plenary sessions, Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to strengthen Nigeria’s partnerships and explore new strategies for addressing terrorism and organised crime in West Africa.

Aqaba Process Meeting in Rome: Strengthening Nigeria’s Regional Security Diplomacy

Security crisis in West Africa has compelled regional leaders to seek broader alliances beyond the continent. The Nigerian delegation, led by President Tinubu, includes key figures such as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

Their participation reflects a deliberate effort to blend diplomatic, military, and intelligence expertise in addressing the multi-dimensional threats confronting the region. Nigeria, as one of the largest and most influential nations in Africa, remains central to shaping the future of regional stability, counter-terrorism, and maritime security frameworks.

By joining global partners in Rome, President Tinubu seeks to reaffirm Nigeria’s leadership role in the fight against terrorism while deepening cooperation with international allies to restore peace, security, and development in the subregion.