UPDATED: Qatar to host investment forum during Tinubu’s visit
Kunle Sanni
The State of Qatar has agreed to host the business and investment forum meeting that was proposed by Nigeria during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the Arab country on a state visit next month.
Tinubu is scheduled to visit the gulf country for March 2 and 3, 2024.
A leaked memo dated February 24, 2024 revealed that the Qatari government had rejected the proposed investment forum citing reasons that its minister of trade and industry, Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani, was not available.
Furthermore, Qatar stated that there was no agreement between Nigeria and their government regarding the promotion of investment.
The development had received a lot of attention from the public, with many Nigerians claiming that President Tinubu was snubbed. However, Onanuga dismissed any insinuations that the President was snubbed.
Westernpost reported how Bayo Onanuga who is the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy president Tinubu stated that both his principal and Qatari Emir, Al-Thani, are committed to maintaining and strengthening Nigeria’s cordial and special relationship with the State of Qatar.
Meanwhile the Qatari embassy in Abuja in a memo titled “Note Verbale” stated that the Qatar government will be hosting the Business and Investment Forum (BIF) meeting.
According to a memo signed on February 23 and seen by WesternPost on Sunday, the event will be hosted by the Qatar Chamber of Commerce on March 3, as proposed by the Nigerian government.
The memo reads, “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.
“Regarding the upcoming State visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar from 2nd-3rd March 2024 and with reference to our Note: Ref: QA 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.
