Qatar has reversed its damning snub of Nigeria as it has now approved the hosting of Business and Investment Forum proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his visit slated for March 2-3, 2024.
The backtrack followed the embarrassment it caused the Nigerian government when the Note Verbale leaked on Saturday wherein Qatar declined the proposed investment forum, citing the lack of necessary agreements and the unavailability of the country’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Also, the Embassy of Qatar in Abuja, in the leaked Note Verbale dated February 22 2024 addressed to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria, said that there is no agreement between the Arabian country and Nigeria regarding the investment forum.
But in the reversal letter which was received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologised for the rejection of the proposed business visit.
In a memo dated Sunday, February 25, 2024 and addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar confirmed that the rejected business parley will now hold during Tinubu’s visit to the country.
According to the Qatar Embassy: “Regarding the upcoming State visit of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar from 2nd-3rd March 2024 and with reference to our Note: Ref: QEA/FA/057/24 dated 22/02/2024 regarding holding of a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr. President’s visit to Qatar on 2nd March 2024.”
“The Embassy has the honour to convey that the Qatar Chamber of Commerce will host the above-mentioned event on March 3, 2024, as proposed by the Nigerian side.”
Earlier in Note Verbale dated Abuja February 22, 2024 to the Protocol Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Embassy of Qatar in Abuja said “there is no agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection to warrant such a Forum.
The embassy also said that moreover, its officials will be too busy “hosting a web summit during the suggested period and the State’s authorities will be preoccupied with the event.”
The embassy also noted that “His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.”
The full NOTE VERBALLE 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 2nd-3rd of March 2024 and with reference to your Note: Ref: ME.631\2024 dated 12\02\2024, which proposed holding of Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr. President’s visit to Qatar on the 2nd March 2024.
“The Embassy has the honour to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologizes that it will not be able to hold a Business Investment Forum as proposed by Nigerian side due to the following reasons :
– Unfortunately, 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 the event.
“The Embassy of the State of Qatar avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the protocol department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the assurance of its highest consideration.”