Qatar turns down Tinubu’s request to visit for business parley
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Government of Qatar has turned down President Bola Tinubu’s request to visit the nation and hold a business and investment forum on March 2 to 3, 2024.
In a letter sent to Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry on February 22, the Qatari government said it would not be able to organise the forum as there is no legally binding agreement between Qatar and Nigeria for the promotion of investment.
The letter obtained by TheNiche on Saturday also said the Qatari Ministry of Commerce would be busy with other events on the proposed days for Tinubu’s visit.
“The Embassy has the honour to inform 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” because “there is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection,” the letter read.
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The Gulf nation further stressed that its commerce and industry minister, 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.
It added that its officials would be too busy because Qatar was hosting its own “web summit” the same time Tinubu planned to visit.
“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 letter indicated.
Last year, the United Arab Emirates authorities faulted an announcement that a visa ban on Nigerians had been lifted after Tinubu visited the UAE leader, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.