The Qatari government has reportedly declined an offer for a state visit by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. A circulating memo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that Qatar is not prepared to host a proposed business forum with Nigeria.
As per the Daily Trust, the memo states that the Business and Investment Forum, proposed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will not be hosted by Qatar.
The memo reads: “The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja extends its compliments to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In reference to the proposed state visit of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar from 2nd – 3rd March 2024, and the proposed Business and Investment Forum (BIF), the Embassy regrets to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar will not be able to host the proposed forum for the following reasons:
Regrettably, there is no existing agreement between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection. The Minister of Commerce and Industry will be on official missions abroad during the proposed visit period. The State of Qatar will be hosting a Web Summit during the proposed period, and the State’s authorities will be engaged with this event.
The Embassy of the State of Qatar takes this opportunity to reaffirm to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria its highest consideration.”
