- By Halimah Olamide
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said it will not make any comment over the letter from the Qatari government rejecting President Bola Tinubu’s request for a visit to the country for a business forum.
The ministry said in spite of the leaked letter, the proposed visit will still take place.
A statement by Mrs. Francisca K. Omayuli, Spokesperson of the ministry confirmed official visit by the Nigerian President to Qatar which was slated for 2-3 March.
NPO Reported earlier that the Qatari government, had in a letter addressed to Nigerian government said Tinubu was not welcome in Qatar for the said meeting citing the absence of any existing legal framework for such meeting to take place.
But the Nigerian government said there exists “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 statement noted
It quoted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, as saying, “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.”
Saying that the ministry will not make any comment on the leaked document, the statement said, “The Ministry is aware of the circulation in the media of diplomatic correspondence and wishes to confirm that it will not comment on leaks.”