President Tinubu To Visit Qatar After Leaked Memo Controversy

President Bola Tinubu is all set to visit Qatar to discuss investment opportunities after a leaked memo claimed that the latter has refused to host the business and investment forum.

Tinubu will visit Qatar for two days, from March 2 to March 3 to "cement the excellent relations existing between the two countries," as per the official statement shared by Nigeria's official X handle (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday.

"We are aware of a leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's state visit to Qatar between 2 and 3 March 2024," the statement read.

It claimed that 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," adding that 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."

The upcoming forum is organized by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Qatar's Chambers of Commerce and Industry, where Nigerian officials will engage with their Qatar counterparts on commercial and investment opportunities available in both countries.

It further noted that both countries share a strong bilateral relationship and Tinubu is visiting Qatar on the invitation from the Emir of Qatar, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. The upcoming state visit will be aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic cooperation between Nigeria and Qatar.

NACCIMA and Qatar Chambers of Commerce and Industry are joining hands to take advantage of Tinubu's Doha visit to explore business opportunities in economic sectors such as oil & gas, manufacturing, agro-business, construction, real estate, ICT, Renewable Energy, Solid Minerals and service sector among others.

Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga said, "It is not correct for anyone to insinuate that the Qatari authorities have snubbed the Nigerian leader over a business and investment forum which is tangential to the all-important state visit and which President Tinubu is slated to attend as a guest," Punch reported.

Qatar embassy, on the other hand, also issued a statement confirming Tinubu's visit to Qatar for a Business and Investment Forum.