….Tinubu to visit Qatar as planned despite snub claims, Says FG
By Abubakar Yunusa
The State of Qatar has rejected a bid by the Nigerian government to hold a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) with the Gulf State on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled visit to the oil-rich country between March 2 and 3, 2024 in Qatar.
In what appears to be an embarrassing diplomatic situation for Nigeria, the Embassy of Qatar in Abuja stated this in a leaked reply to the Note Verbale, initiated by the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, citing various reasons the BIF will not hold.
The embassy in the leaked document at the weekend said: “Regarding the upcoming State Visit of Bola Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar from 2nd March-3rd march 2024 And with reference to your Note: Ref: ME.631/2024 dated 12/02/2024, which proposed holding of a Business and Investment Forum (IBIF) on the margins of Mr. Presidents’ visit to Qatar on March 2nd 2024.”
The Embassy informed the Nigerian government in the letter dated February 22, 2024, that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologises that it will not be able to hold a Business and Investment Forum as proposed by Nigerian side due to certain reasons.
It said, “Unfortunately, there is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection,” stressing that “His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.”
The Embassy also said, “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 Embassy of the State of Qatar avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the assurances of its highest consideration.”
But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said Tinubu’s visit will be held as planned.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the forthcoming visit by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the State of Qatar on 2-3 March, as scheduled. The visit will include bilateral discussions at the highest level across a full range of strategic, diplomatic, and economic issues,” a Saturday statement by its spokesperson Francisca Omayuli read.
While commenting on the development, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar said: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Qatar have a long history of friendship and close bilateral relations. The forthcoming visit to Doha by HE President Tinubu will help build on this important relationship.”
Meanwhile, presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga said the leaked memo claiming Qatari authorities snubbed Tinubu is the handiwork of “mischief makers”.
“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,” he said in an earlier statement.
