Qatar: Tinubu disappointed naysayers – Analyst

An Abuja-based public affairs analyst, Mr. Chukwudi Enekwechi, says President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Qatar disappointed naysayers as it offered vistas of opportunities for Nigerians.

Enekwechi, in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, saidthe visit offered opportunities for citizens of both countries in tourism and business events.

“It also offered a memorandum of understanding for combating the illicit drug trade and psychotropic substances.

Supreme News reports that President Tinubu honoured an invitation by His Highness, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, to visit the country.

The President departed Lagos State on a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, to further strengthen cooperation between the two nations.

The trade and investment visit to Qatar, according to Enekwechi, contrary to opinions that the trip would not hold, became a huge success.

“All hell was let loose as some naysayers opined that the trip would no longer hold as the Qatari emirate/government had declined the invitation.

“This negative narrative was gaining traction in the media space until the Federal Government debunked the storyline and reassured Nigerians that the President was still on his way to the Middle East country.

“The government was ultimately proved right as President Tinubu, along with his team visited Qatar on a two-day visit and met with the highest authority in the country, Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“He also had audience with some senior members of the Qatar government, with all the meetings targeted at stimulating foreign direct investments to Nigeria.

“Regardless of the hullabaloo in the media about the trip, it has turned out to be fruitful and beneficial to the country. In multiple bilateral agreements signed by both countries,” he said.

He said that not only was the visit a gateway for promoting cooperation in different areas, agreements were also signed by Nigeria and Qatar in the areas of education and regulation of employment of workers.

“Furthermore, both countries signed an agreement to establish a Joint Business Council (JBC), between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

“This is apart from the one in the field of youths and sports.”

According to him, in our quest for growth and development, the role of foreign direct investors is a necessity, and President Tinubu has used the opportunity of the Qatar visit to announce the readiness of Nigeria to welcome foreign investors.

"Also, his tendency to use such visits to promote the vitality of Nigerian youths, as well as the strength they possess in driving the growth of the country, is quite encouraging.”

He noted that the trip, which had a retinue of cabinet members covering the relevant sectors, could be described as a showcase of several businesses and investment opportunities in Nigeria.

“Having set the ball rolling, I believe that the Qatari business community will, in no distant time,begin to tap into the vast investment potential in Nigeria.

“With such a move, the President has also demonstrated thatthe doubts that were raised before the trip have been dispelled and the cynics have swallowed their words.”

Enekwechi added that, with the numerous transformative policies enunciated and being implemented by the Tinubu administration, foreign investors would soon choose Nigeria as their destination.

“The Nigeria economy will once again witness a boost. It is, therefore, imperative that citizens keep hope alive, and give the Federal Government the requisite support to enable it succeed.

“The cynics should exercise restraint in projecting their country in bad light to the outside world,” he added.