By Gbenga Oresanya,
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Abuja on Saturday, concluding a crucial diplomatic engagement in Rome, Italy, where he participated in the high-level Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting.
The President arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after a four-day working visit focused intensely on global and regional security, particularly addressing the escalating crisis of terrorism and violent extremism in the West African sub-region.
The Aqaba Process, a counter-terrorism initiative originally launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015 and co-chaired by Jordan and Italy, serves as a strategic platform for coordinating international security efforts.
The Rome edition of the summit, held at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, specifically focused on strengthening collaboration to combat the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing crime-terror nexus, and the increasing overlap between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria’s participation underscored the administration’s resolve to seek global partnerships to tackle its domestic and regional security challenges. The process is built on three core pillars: prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counter-terrorism efforts.
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Bilateral Meetings with Key Global Partners
On the sidelines of the closed-door summit, President Tinubu engaged in a series of strategic bilateral meetings designed to foster cooperation beyond the counter-terrorism mandate.
Italy: The President met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss enhancing Nigeria-Italy cooperation, particularly in areas of economic development and security.
United States: He also held talks with U.S. Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, who reportedly reaffirmed Washington’s support for Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts and its stability initiatives.
The Vatican: A notable engagement was a private meeting with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The discussion centered on promoting religious harmony in Nigeria and countering widespread disinformation campaigns that falsely portray the country as intolerant of religious diversity.
The President’s return signals the immediate resumption of domestic duties following a diplomatic trip that reinforced Nigeria’s active role in global security architecture.
