Food security: Tinubu welcomes Qatari investments in agriculture
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed new investment initiatives from Qatar, emphasizing Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing strategic partnerships, especially in the agriculture sector. This declaration was made during a meeting on Friday with Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Special Envoy of the Amir of Qatar, at the State House in Abuja.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the Qatari envoy, who is also Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, announced that a high-level Qatari business delegation will soon visit Nigeria to explore potential opportunities in agriculture, food security, and petrochemicals.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude for the visit, stating, “To all the members of the delegation, I want to say a big thank you for coming to Nigeria. We are grateful to God for what we have experienced as partners in progress.” He reassured the envoy of Nigeria’s readiness to build on the momentum from his visit to Qatar in 2024, emphasizing the importance of implementing all bilateral agreements.
He remarked, “I take Qatar very seriously. We are willing to go further in our bilateral relations,” highlighting the strong ties between the two nations.
Additionally, Tinubu praised Qatar’s efforts in promoting global peace and human development. “I am proud of your efforts to bring peace and stability to the world. We are conscious of who is our friend and those helping us to ameliorate the problems we face,” he said.
The President also mentioned Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms, aimed at creating a more conducive environment for foreign investors. “We are making efforts to reform our tax system. Our reforms have been hard, but we are gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” he stated.
In response, the Qatari envoy expressed a desire for deeper collaboration with Nigeria. “We are proud of the level of relations we have reached with Nigeria. Our partnership is not just government to government, but also people to people,” he noted, adding that several Qatari companies are eager to invest in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“The message I have from His Highness, Amir of Qatar, is that he wants Nigeria to be a strategic partner in Africa,” Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi concluded, affirming the potential for stronger ties between the two countries.
