Qatar Rejects Tinubu’s Request For Business Trip

A business and investment forum trip of President Bola Tinubu to Qatar has been rejected by the Arab country.

The rejection was contained in a letter dated February 22, 2024) by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and addressed to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria.

The visit of the President to Qatar was scheduled for March 2 and 3, 2024.

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

Part of the letter read, “The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja presents its compliments to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Regarding the upcoming state visit of H. E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar from March 2 and 3, 2024 and with reference to your note: Ref: ME.631 2024 dated 12/02/2024, which proposed the holding of a business and investment forum on the margins of Mr President’s visit to Qatar on March 2, 2024.

“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 the Nigerian side.”

The embassy explained that “there is no agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on investment promotion and protection.

“His Excellency, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.

“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.”