By Obaike Odihue
President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a closed-door meeting with Nigeria’s Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting comes ahead of his scheduled trip to Rome on Saturday, where he will attend the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV, following an invitation from the Vatican.
In attendance at the meeting are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun among others.
Although the details of the meeting have not been disclosed, discussions are expected to focus on the recent resurgence of insecurity across the country.
Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted on Thursday that President Tinubu will join global dignitaries and senior Catholic clergy for the solemn mass marking the beginning of the pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV—the 267th Bishop of Rome and new head of the Roman Catholic Church.
In a formal invitation delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican emphasized the significance of President Tinubu’s presence “at this moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and a world plagued by numerous tensions and conflicts.”
Pope Leo XIV, who previously served at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s, expressed a deep personal connection to Nigeria, describing the country as “particularly dear” to him.
The President will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja; Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos; and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.
Formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV will be formally installed during a grand ceremony at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, following his election by the College of Cardinals 27 days after the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.
