President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday departed Abuja for Rome, Italy, to attend the high-level Aqaba Process meeting of heads of state and government, aimed at addressing the growing threat of terrorism and insecurity across West Africa.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the meeting — scheduled to commence on October 14 — is a joint initiative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian government, launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015 as a platform for fostering global cooperation against terrorism.
The Aqaba Process brings together heads of state and government, senior intelligence and military officials from African countries, as well as representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, to exchange insights on the evolving security dynamics in the region.
Onanuga explained that the meeting recognises the complex nature of security threats confronting West Africa, including the rapid expansion of terrorist networks, the increasing links between organised crime and terrorism, and the growing overlap between land-based insurgencies in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to the statement, the summit will also explore strategies to enhance intelligence sharing, strengthen regional security partnerships, and deepen collaboration between African nations and their international allies to tackle cross-border security challenges effectively.
The Aqaba Process has over the years become a vital forum for promoting collective action and practical solutions to the scourge of terrorism, radicalisation, and violent extremism affecting Africa and other parts of the world.