Qatari Government Makes U-Turn, Agrees To Host Planned Business Meeting With Nigeria During Tinubu’s Visit

The Qatari government has made a U-turn on its rejection to host the business and investment forum proposed by President Bola Tinubu during his visit slated for March 2, 2024, to the Arab country.

This followed a leaked memo on Saturday which showed that Qatar declined the proposed investment forum, citing the unavailability of the country’s minister of commerce and industry, Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Similarly, the embassy of Qatar in Abuja has said that there is no agreement between the Arabian country and Nigeria regarding the investment forum.

It could be recalled that the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja stated this in a letter dated February 22 2024 addressed to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria.

But in the letter, which was received by the ministry on February 23, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologized for the rejection of the proposed business visit.

The Qatari confirmed that the business parley will be held during Tinubu’s visit to the country in a memo dated Sunday, February 25, 2024, addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Qatar embassy said, “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 March 3, 2024, as proposed by the Nigerian side.”