Qatar makes u-turn, agrees to hold business meeting with Nigerian govt during President Tinubu’s state visit

The government of Qatar has reversed its decision not to host the business and investment forum proposed by President Bola Tinubu during his state visit to the oil-rich country from March 2 to March 3.

A leaked memo showed that Qatar declined the proposed investment forum, citing the unavailability of the country’s minister of commerce and industry, Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

However in a letter sent to the Nigerian government, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologized for the rejection of the proposed business meeting. The new development was conveyed in a memo dated February 23, 2024, from the Qatar embassy and addressed to Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs.

The memo in part reads

“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 3rd march 2024, as proposed by the Nigerian side.”