Qatar has backtracked on its decision to not host the business and investment forum proposed by President Bola Tinubu during his visit slated for March 2, 2024, to the Arab country.
This is coming following a leaked memo on Saturday which 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.
The embassy of Qatar in Abuja had hinted that there was no agreement between the oil-rich nation and Nigeria with respect to the investment forum.
Qatar has made a U-turn on the decision, adding that the business forum will now be held as proposed by Nigeria, with its representatives in attendance.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tinubu’s visit will be held as scheduled.
A statement by its spokesperson Francisca Omayuli read:
“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”
In his reaction, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar said: “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 said the leaked memo claiming Qatari authorities snubbed Tinubu is the ploy of “mischief makers”.
“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.