JUST IN: Tinubu returns to Nigeria after visit to Qatar
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Abuja after a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar.
The presidential jet, NAF 001, that conveyed the President landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 7pm, concluding his 12th foreign trip since assuming the Presidency nine months ago, and logging 75 days abroad.
Tinubu was received by top government officials including Vice President Kashim Shettima; his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, among others.
On the first day of his visit, the Nigerian leader toured Qatar’s National Museum where he stressed the importance of accurate documentation of a nation’s history, cultural evolution and challenges.
Touring the 39,994 square metre edifice centred around Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani’s original palace, the President said, “It is great to document culture from the beginning of history, the culture of civilisation, collaborations, challenges and perseverance of leadership.”
The following day, Tinubu alongside the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, witnessed the signing of seven landmark agreements between both nations after closed-door talks at the Presidential Palace in Doha.
They include: cooperation agreement in the field of education; regulation of employment of workers with the Government of Qatar; establishment of a joint business council between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture; in addition to a cooperation agreement in the field of youths and sports.
The other agreements are cooperation in the field of tourism and business events, and a memorandum of understanding combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The documents were signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and relevant officials in the Government of the State of Qatar, Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Higher Education; Dr. Ahmad Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Abdullah bin Khalaf bin Hattab Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior.
Later that Sunday, Tinubu presided over the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum where he asked Qatari captains of industry to report any Nigerian official who demands any form of bribe before allowing them do business in the country.
He insisted that Nigeria will no longer be held back by its past dotted with bureaucratic bottlenecks and corruption that stifled ease of doing business.
“Do not offer a bribe to any of our people, and if it is requested or taken from you, report to us. You will have access to me,” Tinubu said.
The President also assured the international business community that Nigeria is ready for serious business as his administration will deal decisively with any and all entrenched interests in the country who undermine investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.
He also pledged to remove all bottlenecks standing in the way of profitable and legitimate enterprise saying, “Do not let perceptions become a hindrance to your will to invest. Nigeria is serious about revolutionizing investment promotion.”
Qatar is the third Gulf state Tinubu has visited since assuming the Presidency and his 16th foreign destination.
So far, he has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Berlin, Germany and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
