Qatar Makes U-turn, Accepts Tinubu’s Proposed Business Meeting, Visitation Request

Qatar has finally agreed to President Bola Tinubu’s proposal for a meeting to discuss business matters.

Earlier reports suggested that Qatar had rejected Tinubu’s proposed visit for business talks with Qatar.

However, Francisca Omayuli, a spokesperson at Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, confirmed that the president will visit Qatar on March 2 and 3, 2024.

She, however, kept mum on whether Qatar declined a meeting with President Tinubu.

But the Qatari government, in a statement on Sunday, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Qatar Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a business conference on March 3rd, 2024.

“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,” it said.

“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: QEAFA5724 dated 22/02/2024 regarding holding of a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr. President’s visit to Qatar on March 2, 2024.

“The State of Qatar Embassy has the honor to convey that the Qatar Chamber of Commerce will host the above-mentioned event on 3rd March 2024, as proposed by the Nigerian side.

“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.”