JUST-IN: Qatar Govt declines Tinubu’s Business, visitation proposal
Qatar stated that the denial of President Tinubu's request for a visit to the business and investment conference was due to a lack of a legally binding agreement between the country and Nigeria to promote investment.
The Qatari government has refused Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s invitation to visit the nation for a business and investment summit due to a legal issue.
Qatari officials stated in a letter to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday that the Middle Eastern country would be unable to host President Tinubu and hold the proposed forum scheduled for March 2 and 3.
Qatar stated that the denial of President Tinubu’s request for a visit to the business and investment conference was due to a lack of a legally binding agreement between the country and Nigeria to promote investment.
According to the People’s Gazette, the country mentioned in the letter that its ministry of trade had other commitments on the days President Tinubu wanted to visit.
Qatar was quoted as saying in a letter issued to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday that “The Embassy has the honor to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologises that it will be unable to hold a Business and Investment Forum as proposed by the Nigerian side.”
“There is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection.”
The country further stressed that its Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani “will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period” which makes him unavailable to meet with the Nigerian leader.
Qatar added that its officials would be too busy because Qatar was hosting its own “web summit” the same time Mr Tinubu planned to visit.
The letter added that “The State of Qatar will be hosting a web summit during the suggested period and the state’s authorities will be preoccupied with this event.”
The Qatari government’s failure to reschedule the business and investment forum with President Tinubu to a more convenient period, perhaps, suggested its unwillingness to enter into any economic alliance with Nigeria.
Recall that in 2023, the UAE government denied a declaration by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, that a visa prohibition on Nigerians had been abolished following President Tinubu’s visit to the country’s leader, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
(Source: Sahara Reporters)
