The Qatar government declined Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s request to visit the country for a business and investment meeting due to a legal dispute. In a letter to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar stated it couldn’t host Tinubu and the proposed forum on March 2 and 3 because of the absence of a legally binding investment promotion agreement between the two countries.
Additionally, Qatar mentioned its Ministry of Commerce’s prior commitments on the days Tinubu planned to visit.
Qatar was quoted as saying in the letter sent to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday that “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.
“There is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection.”
The country further stressed that its Minister of Commerce and Industry, 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.
Qatar added that its officials would be too busy because Qatar was hosting its own “web summit” the same time Mr Tinubu planned to visit.
The letter added that “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 Qatari government’s refusal to rearrange the business and investment forum with President Tinubu for a more suitable time could imply its reluctance to engage in any economic partnership with Nigeria.
It’s worth noting that in 2023, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government refuted a statement by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, claiming that a visa ban on Nigerians had been lifted following President Tinubu’s meeting with UAE’s leader, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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