President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday for Rome to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting, focused on West Africa’s security crisis.
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‎This was announced in a statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
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‎The high-level summit begins on Tuesday, bringing together African leaders, top intelligence and military officials, and representatives of key intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations.
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‎The Aqaba Process, initiated by Jordan’s King Abdullah II in 2015, is a global counter-terrorism platform co-chaired by Jordan and the Italian Government.
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‎It addresses the complex security challenges in West Africa, especially the rise and spread of terrorist networks across the region.
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‎Discussions will cover the growing link between land-based terror groups in the Sahel and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
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‎Participants will share intelligence assessments and explore stronger regional and international collaboration to tackle cross-border threats.
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‎The summit will also focus on developing joint strategies to fight terrorism on land and at sea.
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‎Another key agenda is countering online radicalisation and dismantling digital channels used for extremist propaganda and recruitment.
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‎Mr Tinubu will also engage in bilateral talks with fellow leaders on improving security coordination across the subregion.
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‎The Nigerian leader will be accompanied by deputy foreign affairs minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and defence minister Badaru Abubakar.
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‎Also on the delegation are the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the NIA director-general, Mohammed Mohammed, alongside other senior officials.

(NAN)