After Backlash, Qatar Says It’s Honoured To Host Tinubu To Business Parley

The Government of Qatar has said the planned Business And Investment Forum between the Qatari and Nigerian governments would go on as scheduled.

The Embassy of Qatar in Abuja disclosed this about 24 hours after a news outlet reported that the investment meeting was declined due to several bilateral reasons.

Widespread reactions on social media trailed the report with many claiming the Nigerian government was snubbed by the Arab country.

But the embassy, in a statement, maintained that the parley as requested by President Bola Tinubu would take place.

Qatar further said it will host Tinubu as scheduled by both countries.

“Regarding the upcoming State visit of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar from 2nd-3rd March 2024 and with reference to our Note: Ref: QEA\FA\057\24 dated 22/02/2024 regarding holding of a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr. President’s visit to Qatar on 2nd March 2024, the Embassy has the honour to convey that the Qatar Chamber of Commerce will host the above mentioned event on 3rd March 2024, as proposed by the Nigerian side.

“The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja presents its compliments to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the embassy said in a statement.

Recall that the presidency had dismissed reports that claimed the government of Qatar snubbed Tinubu’s planned visit to the country for a business parley.

Responding to the news report that cited a letter from the Qatari government rejecting Tinubu’s proposed visit from March 2-3, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the state visit itself was never rejected by the host country.

Onanuga stated on Saturday, “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 “