Leaked Rejection Memo, Tinubu Fixes New Date To Visits Qatar, UAE
President Bola Tinubu will be visiting Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on March 2 to 3, the Nigerian government has confirmed amid an official leak that the president’s visitation request was turned down.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave the confirmation on Saturday in its reactions to the document making rounds that Qatari authorities rejected Tinubu’s offer to visit the country.
Ibom Focus earlier reported that the Qatari authorities in a letter sent to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, said that the Middle East country would not be able to welcome President Tinubu and hold the proposed forum intended to hold on March 2 and 3.
Qatar had said that the rejection of President Tinubu’s request for visitation for the business and investment forum was due to the lack of a legally binding agreement between the country and Nigeria for the promotion of investment.
“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,” the memo had partly read.
But in a statement on Saturday night, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed that Tinubu would visit Qatar.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms State/Official Visit by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Qatar on 2-3 March, excellent relations between Federal Republic of Nigeria and the and the State of Qatar.”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the forthcoming visit by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the State of Qatar on 2-3 March, as scheduled. The visit will include bilateral discussions at the highest level across the a full range of strategic, diplomatic and economic issues.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Qatar have a long history of friendship and close bilateral relations. The forthcoming visit to Doha by HE President Tinubu will help build on this important relationship.”
“The Ministry is aware of the circulation in the media of diplomatic correspondence and wishes to confirm that it will not comment on leaks,” read the statement signed by Francisca K. Omayuli, spokesperson of the ministry.
