The Government of the State of Qatar has declined a proposal by the President Bola Tinubu administration for a joint business and economic roundtable during a planned visit of the Nigerian president in March 2024.

President Bola Tinubu, according to a letter from the Embassy of Qatar in Abuja to the Protocol Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated February 22, 2024, intends to visit the Middle Eastern country between March 2 and March 3, and had requested a business and economic roundtable with the Qatari Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

But it its reply, the Embassy of Qatar, writing on behalf of the country’s Ministry of Commerce, declined the offer, a development that is a diplomatic slap on the Tinubu administration.

According to the letter, the Qatari Ministry of Commerce declined the offer because of the absence of any previous agreement between both countries on investment promotion and protection.

It also said the Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry was going to be on official missions outside the country while the country will also be hosting Web Summit during the period.

While an engagement between the Nigerian president and the Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry appears condescending, it also appears strange that an entire country would be too busy hosting a Web Summit to have time for a visiting Nigerian president.

The letter reads in part:

“The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja presents its compliments to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“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 your Note: Ref: ME.631 2024 dated 12/02/2024, which proposed 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 inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologizes that it will not be able to hold a Business and Investment Forum as proposed by Nigerian side due to the following reasons:

“Unfortunately, there is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection.

“His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.

“The State of Qatar will be hosting a Web Summit during the suggested period and the State's authorities will be preoccupied with this event.

“The Embassy of the State of Qatar avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the assurances of its highest consideration.”

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