Nigerian Government affirms significance of Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar

*The Federal Government stresses the strong bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Qatar affirms that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed state visit to Qatar is on the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, His Highness, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, to strengthen the bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government has clarified a wrong impression some mischief makers have created over a reported leaked diplomatic correspondence, insinuating that the State of Qatari authorities have snubbed the Nigerian leader over a business and investment forum scheduled to hold in the foreign country March 2-3, 2024.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, at the weekend, stated that the business and investment forum in Qatar “is tangential to the all-important State Visit, and which President Tinubu is slated to attend as a guest.”

Onanuga said the Presidency was aware of a leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding President Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar from 2 and 3 March.

The Presidential aide stated: “The leaked diplomatic paper by mischief makers about an investment forum is not in any way a snub on President Tinubu by the Qatari Government.

ConsumerConnect reports the Qatari correspondence  titled, “Note Verbale”, a copy of which our correspondent sighted also agrees to the Presidency’s clarification that the forum is about “a private sector-led Business and Investment Forum to be held on the margins of President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit.”

The government also noted that the forthcoming event is being put together by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Qatar’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry, where business people from Nigeria will engage their counterparts from Qatar on commercial and investment opportunities available in both countries.

Tinubu honouring invitation for a state visit

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy further stated: “We note the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries and affirm that the State Visit by President Bola Tinubu to Qatar is on the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, His Highness, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The State Visit is particularly aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic cooperation between Nigeria and Qatar.

The Presidency explained the details of the forum, stating “NACCIMA and Qatar Chambers of Commerce and Industry are collaborating to take advantage of President Tinubu’s visit to Doha to mobilise the business community from our two countries to explore opportunities in key economic sectors, such as oil and gas, manufacturing, agro-business, construction, real estate, ICT, Renewable Energy, Solid Minerals and service sector, among others.”

The Nigerian Government disclosed President Tinubu is expected to proceed to Qatar on the State Visit “as scheduled and during the visit, the Nigerian leader will engage in high-level bilateral discussions with Qatari leader on many important matters, covering the full range of diplomatic and economic issues.”

Onanuga said: “It is not correct for anyone to insinuate that the Qatari authorities have snubbed the Nigerian leader over a business and investment forum, which is tangential to the all-important State Visit and which President Tinubu is slated to attend as a guest.”

He added: “President Tinubu and His Highness Al-Thani are both committed to maintaining and building on the existing cordial and special relationship between Nigeria and the State of Qatar.”

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