QATAR VISIT: FG Says Rejection Letter Was Leaked By Mischief Makers

The Federal government this evening debunked the viral report that revealed the government of Qatar had shunned President Tinubu’s request to visit the country for a bilateral business meeting.

In a statement issued this evening via Twitter, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy noted that the FG was aware of leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the President s state visit to Qatar between 2 and 3 March 2024.

According to Onanuga, the diplomatic paper about an investment forum was leaked by mischief makers and was not a snub on President Tinubu by the Qatari government.

Speaking further, he noted that the Note Verbale was about a private sector-led Business and Investment Forum to be held on the margins of President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit.

“The 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. 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.” Onanuga stated

Part of the statement read:

The State Visit is particularly aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic cooperation between Nigeria and Qatar. 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 & gas, manufacturing, agro-business, construction, real estate, ICT, Renewable Energy, Solid Minerals and service sector, among others.

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.

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. 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.