President Bola Tinubu engaged in high-level talks with Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, during a meeting in Rome, Italy, on October 17, 2025.
The encounter, held on the sidelines of the 10th Aqaba Process Summit, a forum focused on countering terrorism and enhancing maritime security centered on deepening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States.
Discussions highlighted opportunities in trade, infrastructure development, energy cooperation, and job creation, with both leaders emphasizing Nigeria's role as a pivotal investment hub in Africa.
Tinubu emphasised on his administration's economic reforms aimed at fostering sustainable growth and regional stability, while Boulos praised these initiatives as transformative, expressing optimism about Nigeria's potential to drive continental progress.
The meeting also addressed broader security challenges, including efforts to combat terrorism in the Sahel and improve safety in the Gulf of Guinea.
In a subsequent interview, Boulos addressed ongoing narratives of religious persecution in Nigeria, particularly claims of a "Christian genocide" amplified by figures like U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.
He dismissed these as "disinformation," noting that groups like Boko Haram and ISIS affiliates have "killed more Muslims than Christians" and that insecurity stems from broader global threats rather than targeted religious bias.
Boulos commended Tinubu's recent security enhancements in the Middle Belt, describing Nigeria as a diverse nation where Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for centuries.
This Rome meeting builds on prior engagements between the two leaders, including an April 2025 discussion in Paris on regional peace, such as stabilizing eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
It signals strengthening diplomatic momentum ahead of potential U.S. policy shifts under Trump, with an eye toward expanded American investments in African energy and minerals.
The development has sparked mixed reactions online, with some hailing it as a diplomatic win for Tinubu's foreign policy, while others criticize Boulos' remarks on religious violence as overlooking documented human rights concerns from groups like Amnesty International.
Overall, the talks reinforce Nigeria's strategic positioning in U.S.-Africa relations.
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