Presidency confirms Tinubu’s visit to Qatar

The Nigerian Government has described a leaked memo between the Embassy of Qatar and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the work of “mischief makers”.

Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, in a statement, said the leaked diplomatic document about an investment forum is not a snub on President Tinubu by the Qatari government.

He clarified that the information contained in the document is in relation to a private Business and Investment Forum organized by Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mimes and Agriculture, (NACCIMA), in collaboration with Qatar’s Chambers of Commerce.

A leaked memo from the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja had stated reasons why the forum would not hold to include the absence of a signed investment promotion agreement between Nigeria and Qatar among other reasons.

(The leaked memo)

Part of the statement from Onanuga reads: “We are aware of a leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar between 2 and 3 March, 2024.

“The leaked diplomatic paper by mischief makers about an investment forum is not in any way a snub on President Tinubu by the Qatari government.

“The Note Verbale is about a private sector-led Business and Investment Forum to be held on the margins of President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit.

“…NACCIMA and Qatar Chambers of Commerce and Industry are collaborating to take advantage of President Tinubu’s visit to Doha to mobilise the business community from our two countries to explore opportunities in key economic sectors such as oil & gas, manufacturing, agro-business, construction,  real estate, ICT, Renewable Energy, Solid Minerals and service sector, among others.

“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.”