The presidency has debunked reports that the Government of Qatar ‘rejected’ President Bola Tinubu’s plans to embark on a state visit to the country.
A correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about state of preparedness for a business sidelines meeting, had been leaked to the public and misrepresented in the media to mean that President Tinubu’s visit had been rejected by the Qatari government.
However, providing an explanation in a statement Saturday evening, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the state visit by President Tinubu is on the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
It further explained that the controversial ‘snub’ report was a misrepresentation of the correspondence over a planned business event between 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.
STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU'S STATE VISIT TO QATAR
We are aware of a leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar… pic.twitter.com/jXMHpuZ56S
— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) February 24, 2024