President Bola Tinubu has expressed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen strategic partnerships with Qatar, particularly in agriculture and food security, as part of broader efforts to attract foreign investment.
Speaking on Friday at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting with Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Special Envoy of the Amir of Qatar, Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to implementing all existing bilateral agreements between the two nations. The envoy, who is also Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, conveyed plans for a high-level Qatari business delegation to visit Nigeria in the coming weeks to explore opportunities in agriculture, food security, and petrochemicals.
In a statement released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu thanked the Qatari delegation for its continued engagement with Nigeria and reaffirmed the strong ties between both nations. “Let me commend the brotherly relations between Qatar and Nigeria. The Ambassador knows that I take Qatar very seriously. We are willing to go further in our bilateral relations,” Tinubu said.
He also praised Qatar’s contributions to global peace and development, noting that both countries share common challenges, including terrorism and humanitarian issues. “I am proud of your efforts to bring peace and stability to the world. Like you, we are sandwiched between the challenge of terrorism and helping our neighbours,” the President added.
Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms, particularly in the tax system, which he said are aimed at creating a more favorable environment for foreign investors. “We are making efforts to reform our tax system. The reforms have been hard, but we are gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. You can’t find a better partner than Nigeria,” he said.
He further urged Qatar to expand its humanitarian and economic contributions to Nigeria, suggesting greater collaboration in alleviating poverty and building a knowledge-based economy.
Dr. Al-Khulaifi, in his remarks, reaffirmed Qatar’s desire to make Nigeria a strategic partner in Africa, noting the strong foundation of the bilateral relationship. “We are proud of the level of relations we have reached with Nigeria. It is not just government to government but also people to people,” he said.
He disclosed that several Qatari companies have expressed interest in investing in Nigeria’s agriculture and petrochemical sectors, and emphasized that Qatar is eager to work with Nigeria to strengthen cooperation in key areas.
Carrying a message from the Amir of Qatar, Al-Khulaifi concluded, “His Highness wants Nigeria to be a strategic partner in Africa.
ADEOLA KUNLE
