President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged Nigeria’s commitment to deepening ties with Qatar, endorsing new investment initiatives by Qatari firms aimed at advancing Nigeria’s agriculture sector and strengthening strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Speaking on Friday at the State House in Abuja during a meeting with Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Special Envoy of the Amir of Qatar, Tinubu emphasized Nigeria's readiness to build on the progress made during his 2024 state visit to the Gulf nation. The President assured the envoy that Nigeria remains fully open to strategic partnerships, particularly in agriculture, food security, and other vital sectors.
Dr. Al-Khulaifi, who is also Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, conveyed the Amir’s strong interest in expanding bilateral ties. He announced that a high-level Qatari business delegation will visit Nigeria in the coming weeks to explore investment opportunities.
A statement released by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga highlighted President Tinubu’s directive to key ministers—including Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning), Mohammed Idris (Information and National Orientation), and Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Foreign Affairs)—to coordinate efforts to ensure swift implementation of all agreements between the two countries.
In his remarks, Tinubu expressed appreciation for the enduring relationship between Nigeria and Qatar, describing the Gulf nation as a “brotherly” partner. He praised the Qatari government’s contributions to global peace and stability, acknowledging its proactive role in human development and conflict resolution.
“I am proud of your efforts to bring peace and stability to the world,” Tinubu said. “Like you, we are sandwiched between the challenge of terrorism and helping our neighbours. We are conscious of who our friends are and who is helping us to overcome our challenges.”
The President also highlighted ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s tax system, aimed at creating a more favorable environment for foreign investors. “Our reforms have been hard, but necessary. We are gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. You can’t find a better partner than Nigeria,” he said.
Calling for greater collaboration in economic development, Tinubu urged Qatar to extend its expertise in building a knowledge-based economy to Nigeria, especially in areas such as poverty reduction and humanitarian support.
“We are doing our best as the leader in Africa. We want to continue to promote strong relations with your country,” he said. “There can be no development without peace, and we support your peace initiatives.”
Dr. Al-Khulaifi reaffirmed the Amir’s desire to strengthen the strategic partnership with Nigeria, particularly in peace-building, agriculture, and petrochemicals. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far and praised the people-to-people connections between both countries.
“We are proud of the level of relations we have reached with Nigeria. Our Ambassador has been closely following up on joint projects, and we look forward to deeper cooperation,” he said.
The Qatari envoy added that several Qatari companies have shown interest in Nigeria and will soon visit to explore investment prospects, especially in the agricultural sector. He conveyed a clear message from the Amir of Qatar: “He wants Nigeria to be a strategic partner in Africa.”