The Presidency has debunked the false claims that President Bola Tinubu was snubbed by the Qatari government over his upcoming state visit to the oil-rich nation. The malicious rumours were based on a leaked diplomatic letter that suggested Qatar had declined to host a business and investment forum during Tinubu’s visit.
However, the Presidency clarified that the letter only referred to a private sector event organised by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Qatar’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which was not part of the official itinerary of the state visit.
In a statement issued on Saturday, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said the state visit was at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who had expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral ties with Nigeria. Onanuga said Tinubu and the Qatari leader would hold high-level talks on various issues of mutual interest, such as trade, investment, energy, security, and culture.
Onanuga also slammed the peddlers of the fake news, saying they were out to tarnish the image of Tinubu and undermine his efforts to promote Nigeria’s interests abroad. He urged the public to disregard the misleading reports and focus on the positive outcomes of the state visit, which he said would boost Nigeria’s economy and diplomacy.
Tinubu is expected to depart for Qatar on March 2 and return on March 3, 2024. He will be accompanied by a delegation of senior government officials and business leaders. The state visit is the first by a Nigerian president to Qatar since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1976.
