President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming visit to Qatar in March for bilateral discussions remains on schedule despite speculations of a perceived snub by Qatari authorities.
A memo between the Embassy of Qatar in Abuja and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over preparations for a sideline meeting was leaked and misrepresented to mean that President Tinubu was snubbed by the Asian nation’s government, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that Tinubu’s visit will proceed as planned.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Ministry confirmed Tinubu’s visit, emphasizing its importance for discussions on strategic, diplomatic, and economic matters at the highest level.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the forthcoming visit by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the State of Qatar on 2-3 March, as scheduled. The visit will include bilateral discussions at the highest level across a full range of strategic, diplomatic, and economic issues,” a Saturday statement by its spokesperson Francisca Omayuli read.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar highlighted the longstanding friendship and close bilateral relations between Nigeria and Qatar, expressing optimism that Tinubu’s visit would further strengthen these ties.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Qatar have a long history of friendship and close bilateral relations. The forthcoming visit to Doha by HE President Tinubu will help build on this important relationship.”
Presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga dismissed the leaked memo as the work of “mischief makers,” clarifying that it pertained to a private sector-led Business and Investment Forum to be held alongside President Tinubu’s State Visit.
Onanuga reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Qatar, noting that Tinubu’s visit was at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
“The leaked diplomatic paper by mischief makers about an investment forum is not in any way a snub on President Tinubu by the Qatari government,” he said in an earlier statement.
“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.”
“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,” he explained.
