*Welcomes Multi-Sectoral Agreements; To Receive Qatar’s Investment Team
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu and His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, witnessed the signing of historic agreements between both nations, opening a gateway for leveraging the potential of mutual cooperation in pivotal sectors of education, enterprise development, investment promotion, youth empowerment, mining, tourism and sports.
Before the signing ceremony at the Qatar Presidential Palace, Tinubu assured his host of Nigeria’s preparedness to welcome investors into the country, saying ongoing reforms favour innovation, return on investments and multiculturalism.
He stated: “Our greatest strength is our people; our strength lies in the capacity of Nigerian youths. They have energy, talent and self-belief. They are quality partners for Qatari industry. They are educated and reliable and they are proactively seeking to add value wherever they are.
“A few cannot give a bad name to the many. Nigerian youths are ready to be unleashed for the mutual benefit of both nations.
“We have seen clearly the rapid pace and thorough quality of Qatar’s development process. It is impossible not to be moved by what you have accomplished. The leadership in the country has proven its mettle and we are here to gain deeper insight.
“There is nowhere in the world where you will find return on investment at the level of what you will see in Nigeria. A massive market of over 200 million skilled Nigerians, always industrious and ready to work.
“We face some short-term turbulence at the moment, but we have a government today that reflects the dynamism and talent of the Nigerian people. We are implementing the right solutions. This team works collaboratively with each other and our partners. Nigeria is ready for serious business.”
Al Thani, on his part, said Qatar was open to Tinubu’s investment push, recalling that he traveled to Nigeria in 2019 due to his belief that Nigeria is an important and strategic ally on its own and within the context of its role in regional affairs.
He noted: “I have no doubt about the great capacity of the Nigerian people. Everywhere in the world, they are known for their brilliance and hardwork. We only need to ensure that this is happening inside of Nigeria rather than outside.
“The investments we have made around the world have been very fruitful, because we take our time and study opportunities before we invest the commonwealth of our people. It is not my money; the money we invest belongs to the future generations of Qatar.
“Mr. President, I am very encouraged by your actions and your passion to create new opportunities. We are very open to this and follow-up is everything at this point. The will is there for both of us, but we must follow up.
“I will send a team of officials to Nigeria after Ramadan and we will advance discussions on what some of the actionable investment opportunities are.”
Tinubu immediately named the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, as leader of the government team that would interface with Qatari authorities in investment identification and implementation moving forward.
During the bilateral deliberations, there was a brief presentation to the Emir by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, who spoke in detail about the high-grade of several minerals, including lithium, immediately derivable across the country, with an emphasis on opportunities for local mineral processing and value-additive industry in the sector.
This was followed by a closed-door meeting between the two heads of state before they proceeded to the signing ceremony for seven bilateral agreements across multiple sectors.
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 (JBC) between the Qatar’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and a cooperation agreement in the field of youths and sports.
Others are cooperation in the field of tourism and business events and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The documents were signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and relevant officials in the Government of the State of Qatar, such as Minister of Education and Higher Education, Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi; Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ahmad Hassen Al-Hammadi; Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani, and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior (MOI), Abdullah bin Khalaf bin Hattab Al Kaabi.
Also present at the ceremony were Edun; Alake; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperipe Ekpo; National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen.
Meanwhile, Tinubu has assured the international business community that Nigeria was ready for serious business, saying his administration would deal decisively with any and all entrenched interests in the country that undermine investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.
Tinubu also told Qatari investors that Africa’s largest economy and its systems were being reformed and upgraded, urging them to report any government official who demands a bribe or any form of inducement at any point in their business endeavour, assuring them direct access to his office.
Speaking at the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum in Doha, earlier, Tinubu pledged to remove all bottlenecks in the way of profitable and legitimate enterprise.
He stated: “I am here to give you the assurance that reforms are going on; forget about whatever you heard in the past. Whatever is the obstacle or problem that some of you might have experienced, it is in the past, because there is no obstacle in the future.
“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. Nigeria will no longer be defined by the past, but by what we do now and moving forward. Do not let perceptions become a hindrance to your will to invest.
“Nigeria is serious about revolutionising investment promotion. We are removing obstacles today and we are going to continue to remove all obstacles. We have done so much within nine months, and I am assuring you, it is free entry and free exit. Your funds will flow smoothly into and out of our country. Bring your investments.”
He told his audience that the war against corruption and insecurity in Nigeria had been significantly strengthened with the appointment of Ribadu as NSA, adding: “We have a man who has won many global awards for anti-corruption as an anti-corruption czar.
“My responsibility is to tell you that Nigeria is open for business and to assure you that your investments are safe in our hands. We have men and women of great reputation here and we believe we can forge a good committee that will advance our discussions to fruitful conclusions.
“A nation is an artificial entity unless there are good people to drive it. People build great nations and we have great people. We are ready.”
He also noted that Nigeria possesses vast opportunities in various fields, saying: “We have oil and gas; we have solid minerals. I do not see why we cannot become prolific partners in exploring iron ore, as well as steel production, and energy across the board.
“I am here to give you assurances in all spheres: tourism, hospitality, healthcare and in many other opportunities that abound around us. Do not be the investors who miss out on the golden opportunity we present.”
While welcoming the Nigerian delegation in the presence of Qatari captains of industry, Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani, said his country looks forward to exploring opportunities in Nigeria, due to its population demography and market, even as it seeks to prioritise new investments in low carbon initiatives, mineral products, petroleum chemicals, industry and consumables.
He stated: “We look forward to working with our Nigerian counterparts to achieve our joint objectives in these sectors.”
Tinubu was accompanied to the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum by Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Edun; Alake; Pate; Uzoka-Anite; Ekpo; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola and Minister of Youth, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim.
Others were Ribadu; Verheijen and President of NACCIMA, Mr. Dele Kelvin Oye.
Meanwhile, a former minister of Aviation, Dr. Osita Chidoka, has described the President’s comment on Nigeria’s bribe seeking officials as unfortunate.
Speaking on a television programme, Chidoka said Tinubu was de-marketing Nigeria in the eyes of investors instead of marketing it, adding: “It was an unfortunate statement. I was embarrassed that the President was continuing Buhari’s type of de-marketing of Nigeria.
“There are many Nigerians who will not ask you for bribe. The people who will probably ask for bribe are in the minority. The job of the President is to sell Nigeria, to be the chief salesperson of the country.
“I don’t really blame the President; I blame the inability of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Information for the theme of the government. The government has to have a theme, like we are pro-investment and we want to attract foreign exchange.
“Our mission is to deodorise Nigeria, to tell a good story about Nigeria, Africa’s rising narrative, and to say that this change of government is a new mandate that tells how Nigeria has been able to sustain democracy for going to 25 years now.”
