By Linus Aleke, Abuja
Federal Government (FG), said it will not dignify those circulating leaked diplomatic correspondence on planned investment forum, at the sidelines of Presidential Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar next week, with a response.
Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Francisca Omayuli, in a statement said, the ministry is aware of the circulation of a diplomatic correspondence on the social media and wishes to state that it will not comment on the leaks.
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Mrs. Omayuli, however reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will embark on a State Visit to Qatar from 2nd – 3rd March, 2024 to further cement the excellent relations existing between the two countries.
This is as President Tinubu, in a statement signed by one of his Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said, 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.
The foreign ministry however, noted that during the visit, discussions will be held at the highest level, on a wide range of bilateral and economic issues.
The President, Mrs. Omayuli, said, will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, among some other Ministers and top government officials.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said that he is aware of a leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding his state visit to Qatar between 2 and 3 March, 2024.
Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said 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 noted 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.
He further explained that the event is being put together by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Qatar’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry where business people from Nigeria will engage their counterparts from Qatar on commercial and investment opportunities available in both countries.
He said: “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. The State Visit is particularly aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic cooperation between Nigeria and Qatar.
“NACCIMA and Qatar Chambers of Commerce and Industry are collaborating to take advantage of President Tinubu’s visit to Doha to mobilise the business community from our two countries to explore opportunities in key economic sectors such as oil & gas, manufacturing, agro-business, construction, real estate, ICT, Renewable Energy, Solid Minerals and service sector, among others. President Tinubu is expected to proceed to Qatar on the State Visit as scheduled and during the visit, the Nigerian leader will engage in high-level bilateral discussions with Qatari leader on many important matters, covering the full range of diplomatic and economic issues.
“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”.
President Tinubu and His Highness Al-Thani, the statement concluded, are both committed to maintaining and building on the existing cordial and special relationship between Nigeria and the State of Qatar.
