Tinubu Jets Out of Nigeria Again, Destination, Reason Emerge
- President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja today, October 12, for Italy to participate in the Aqaba Process heads of state and government level meeting
- The Aqaba Process meeting is a counter-terrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015
- A statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the meeting focuses on security crisis in West Africa
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Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs and governance in Nigeria.
FCT, Abuja - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday, October 12, for Rome.
Legit.ng reports that President Tinubu has embarked upon many international travels since he assumed office.
Source: Twitter
The Nigerian leader had embarked on over 35 foreign trips since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, visiting countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, the middle east, and the Americas. These included Benin Republic, Chad, Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, the Vatican, the United States, Brazil, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, and China.
Legit.ng understands that several additional visits had been approved for the rest of 2025.
Aqaba summit: Tinubu departs Abuja
According to a statement on Saturday, October 11, by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will travel to Italy to participate in the Aqaba Process heads of state and government level meeting, with special focus on the security crisis in West Africa.
Legit.ng reports that the meeting, which will begin on Tuesday, October 14, will bring together heads of state and government, senior intelligence and military officials from African countries, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to discuss the evolving security challenges in West Africa.
About Aqaba Process meeting
Legit.ng understands that the Aqaba Process meeting is a counter-terrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015. It is co–chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government. It 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 presidency said at the meeting, participants will develop strategies to counter the terror threat on land and the sea.
The statement added:
"The meeting will discuss ideas on how to coordinate efforts to combat online radicalisation and disrupt digital networks that facilitate terrorist propaganda and recruitment."
Insecurity: Tinubu to meets world leaders
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.
Onanuga disclosed that President Tinubu will be accompanied by Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA); Bianca Ojukwu-Odumegwu, minister of state for foreign affairs; Muhammad Badaru, minister of defence; Mohammed Mohammed, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); and others.
Read more on Bola Tinubu's presidency:
- Tinubu grants presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, who killed her husband in 2020
- Tinubu's govt: New twist as top minister receives death threats
- Certificate scandal: Fresh details emerge on how Tinubu allegedly ordered minister's resignation
Support grows for state of emergency
Some retired senior military officers have backed the call by a Lucky Irabor (retd), former chief of defence staff (CDS), for the declaration of a state of emergency to effectively address the protracted Boko Haram insurgency.
This comes as President Tinubu tries to overhaul Nigeria's security framework, prioritising the fight against terrorism amid a 'Renewed Hope' agenda pursuit.
Retired Major General Dayo Olukoju said while a state of emergency was necessary, it should be complemented by a broader, multilateral approach that addresses the root causes of terrorism.
Source: Legit.ng
