The government of Qatar has rejected the request by the federal government to hold a business and investment forum on the sideline of the visit of President Bola Tinubu to the country.
The Qatari authorities in a letter sent to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, said that the Middle East country would not be able to welcome Tinubu and hold the proposed forum intended to hold on March 2 and 3 as there is no legal backing for such.
Qatar said that the rejection of Tinubu’s request for visitation for the business and investment forum was due to the lack of a legally binding agreement between the country and Nigeria for the promotion of investment.
Qatar was quoted as saying in the letter sent to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday 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.
“There is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection.”
The country further stressed that its Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani “will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period” which makes him unavailable to meet with the Nigerian leader.
Reacting to the leaked memo, Bayo Onanuga, an aide to the President said the rejection of the meeting doesn’t not translate into snub of the his principal.
He said Tinubu was invited by the Qatari president, stating the business and investment forum was being organized by Nigerian chamber of commerce and industry.
He said, “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.
“The event is being put together by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Qatar’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry where business people from Nigeria will engage their counterparts from Qatar on commercial and investment opportunities available in both countries.
“We note the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries and affirm that the State Visit by President Bola Tinubu to Qatar is on the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, His Highness, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.”
