Tinubu jets out to Rome

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to travel from Abuja to Rome, Italy, today, Sunday, October 12, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting.

According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the gathering—which begins on October 14—will centre on the worsening security situation across West Africa.

The statement explained that the forum will convene Heads of State, senior intelligence and defence officials from African nations, as well as representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, to deliberate on regional security concerns.

Launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan and co-chaired by the Jordanian and Italian governments, the Aqaba Process serves as a counter-terrorism platform addressing the multifaceted security issues confronting West Africa.

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“The meeting 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,” the statement read.

“At the meeting, participants will exchange assessments of the current security landscape in West Africa and foster collaboration between regional and international partners to address cross-border security challenges. Participants will also develop strategies to counter the terror threat on land and the sea.

“The meeting will discuss ideas on how to coordinate efforts to combat online radicalisation and disrupt digital networks that facilitate terrorist propaganda and recruitment.”

Onanuga added that the president will also take part in bilateral meetings with other world leaders on the sidelines of the summit to explore ways of improving security cooperation in the subregion.

“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.

“The President will be accompanied by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu–Ojukwu, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, and other senior government officials.”