The government of Qatar has officially declined President Bola Tinubu’s request for a visit aimed at conducting a business and investment forum, citing a lack of a legally binding agreement on investment promotion between Qatar and Nigeria. In a communication addressed to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated Thursday, the Qatari authorities expressed their inability to host the proposed forum initially slated for March 2 and 3, 2023.
The letter highlighted that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar had prior commitments that coincide with the dates requested by the Nigerian side for the visit. Specifically, it mentioned that Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, would be engaged in official missions abroad during the period President Tinubu intended to visit.
Further complicating the scheduling, Qatar pointed out its hosting of a significant web summit during the same timeframe, which would engage the state’s authorities and prevent them from accommodating the Nigerian delegation. The Qatari government’s emphasis on the absence of a formal investment promotion and protection agreement between the two nations underscores the procedural and legal considerations underpinning such high-level interactions.
This development follows a similar instance in 2023 when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) countered an announcement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, regarding the lifting of a visa ban on Nigerians. The announcement had come in the aftermath of President Tinubu’s visit to the UAE’s leader, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, raising questions about the effectiveness and clarity of diplomatic communications between Nigeria and other nations.
The refusal by the Qatari government to reschedule the business and investment forum to a more convenient time signals a cautious approach to formalizing economic alliances with Nigeria. As international relations and economic partnerships continue to play a critical role in global diplomacy, the incident underscores the importance of clear, legal frameworks and mutual understanding in fostering bilateral cooperation.