Qatar Declines Tinubu’s Request For Business And Investment Discussions 

Qatar Declines Tinubu’s Request For Business And Investment Discussions 

The Qatari government has declined President Bola Tinubu’s request to visit Qatar and conduct a business and investment forum.

In a formal communication to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar stated that they are unable to host the proposed forum on March 2 and 3 due to the absence of a legally binding agreement between Qatar and Nigeria regarding investment promotion.

Additionally, Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce cited prior commitments on the days that Mr. Tinubu intended to visit.

According to the letter from Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, it expressed regret that they could not hold the Business and Investment Forum due to the lack of a signed agreement between Qatar and Nigeria for investment promotion and protection.

Furthermore, Qatar highlighted that their Commerce and Industry Minister would be on official missions abroad during the planned visit period, making him unavailable for a meeting with the Nigerian leader.

The letter stated 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” because “there is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection. 

“Our commerce and industry minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.”

Qatar also mentioned hosting a “web summit” during the same timeframe as Mr. Tinubu’s proposed visit, indicating that their officials would be engaged with that event.

“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 letter indicated.

The Qatari government’s decision not to reschedule the business forum to a more suitable period could suggest a reluctance to establish an economic partnership with Nigeria.

This situation bears resemblance to a previous incident where the United Arab Emirates authorities refuted claims of lifting a visa ban on Nigerians after President Tinubu’s visit to UAE leader Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.