Qatar rejects Nigerian request for Business Forum during Tinubu’s visit.
The government of Qatar has turned down Nigeria’s proposal for a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s upcoming visit in March.
The Embassy of the State of Qatar cited the absence of a signed agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection between the two nations as the reason for declining the request.
In a letter dated February 22, 2024, the Qatari Embassy explained, “Unfortunately, there is no agreement signed between Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection.”
Additionally, it mentioned that Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry would be on official missions abroad during President Tinubu’s visit, with the state hosting a web summit during the same period.
Despite the rejection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that President Tinubu would proceed with his State visit to Qatar as scheduled.
The visit aims to strengthen bilateral and economic ties between the two countries, addressing various issues at the highest level. Responding to the leaked diplomatic correspondence, the ministry emphasized that the issues raised in the letter had been resolved and were no longer relevant.
Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency dismissed the leak as the work of “mischief makers and unpatriotic Nigerians,” asserting the continued strong bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Qatar.
