Recent revelations unveil diplomatic exchanges between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s forthcoming official visit to Qatar slated for March 2nd and 3rd, 2024.
Contrary to speculations circulating, the leaked documentation concerning an investment symposium does not imply any disregard from the Qatari government towards President Tinubu. The Note Verbale pertains primarily to a privately organized Business and Investment Forum spearheaded by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in collaboration with Qatar’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry, coinciding with the President’s official visit.
Underscoring the robust bilateral relations shared between Nigeria and Qatar, we affirm that President Tinubu’s State Visit is extended at the behest of the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, with a central focus on augmenting economic collaboration.
NACCIMA and Qatar Chambers of Commerce and Industry are leveraging President Tinubu’s visit to Doha as a platform to galvanize the business communities of both nations, facilitating discussions on potential commercial and investment opportunities spanning various sectors such as oil & gas, manufacturing, agro-business, ICT, and renewable energy.
President Tinubu’s agenda encompasses high-level dialogues with Qatari dignitaries encompassing a spectrum of diplomatic and economic issues, aimed at fostering deeper mutual comprehension and collaboration.
Any conjectures regarding a perceived Qatari snub based on the business symposium are unwarranted, as President Tinubu, alongside His Highness Al-Thani, remains steadfast in nurturing and fortifying the enduring rapport between Nigeria and Qatar.