Qatari officials have rejected President Bola Tinubu’s request to visit their country and host a business and investment forum.
The Qatari government sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, explaining that they cannot accommodate Mr. Tinubu and the proposed forum on March 2 and 3 because there is no legally binding agreement between Qatar and Nigeria to promote investment.
Furthermore, the Qatari Ministry of Commerce has prior commitments on the days Mr. Tinubu wanted to visit.
According to a letter sent to the Nigerian foreign affairs ministry on February 22, Qatar wrote: “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 Gulf nation emphasized that its commerce and industry minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani, will be on official missions abroad during the upcoming visit period, making him unavailable to meet with the Nigerian leader.
Also, Qatar will be hosting its own “web summit” at the same time Mr. Tinubu planned to visit, so its officials will be too busy to meet.
“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.
The Qatari government’s decision not to reschedule the business forum to a more suitable time may indicate a lack of interest in forming an economic partnership with Nigeria.
Similarly, last year, United Arab Emirates officials denied reports that a visa ban on Nigerians had been lifted following a visit by Mr. Tinubu to UAE leader Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Read the letter below:
