Nigeria, Qatar sign agreements on taxation, air service

By The Citizen

Nigeria and the State of Qatar on Sunday signed an agreement on avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, said in a statement that the agreement was signed on the sideline of Buhari's state visit to Qatar.

He said Nigerian Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun signed the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes income with her Qatari counterpart, Ali Shareef Al Emadi.

According to Adesina, the agreement on the avoidance of double taxation which had been negotiated since February 2015 will no doubt bring in more investments and businesses between Qatar and Nigeria.

The presidential spokesman said Nigeria and Qatar also signed Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to pave way for direct flights between major cities of both countries.

He said the Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika, signed the air services agreement on behalf of Nigeria; while Qatar's Minister of Transportation and Communications, Jassim Bin Saif Alsulaiti, signed on behalf the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani.

He said the agreement which was signed in the presence of both leaders was expected to operate on the principle of reciprocity by the designated airlines on behalf of the countries.

Adesina said it was also expected that the agreement on bilateral air service would promote trade, commerce and tourism between the two countries.

He said this was just as Nigeria had also commenced discussions on partnerships towards establishing her national airline.