President Bola Tinubu held a private meeting with top security chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday. The meeting included the Inspector General of Police and heads of the army, navy, and air force.

This meeting happened just before his planned trip to Rome on Saturday. Tinubu will be attending the inauguration mass of the new Catholic Pope, Leo XIV, after receiving an invitation from the Vatican.

Present at the meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and the Inspector General of Police. These are Nigeria’s top security officers.

Although what they discussed wasn’t made public, it’s expected that they talked about the recent rise in insecurity across the country.

Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu will join many world leaders and top Catholic officials for the mass. It will officially mark the start of Pope Leo XIV’s role as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who sent the invitation, said Tinubu’s presence is important. The Vatican believes it matters during this time when the world is facing many problems and conflicts.

Pope Leo XIV has a special connection to Nigeria. In the 1980s, he worked in Lagos at the Vatican’s office. He called Nigeria a country he holds dear.

President Tinubu will travel with a high-level delegation. The group includes Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and several top Nigerian Catholic leaders like Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop Alfred Martins, and Bishop Matthew Kukah.

Pope Leo XIV, who used to be Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will officially become Pope during a grand ceremony at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18. He was elected 27 days after Pope Francis passed away.

President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.

It’s also important to note that Tinubu recently approved the hiring of forest guards to help improve security in Nigeria.