President Muhammadu Buhari was supposed to visit Qatar on September 22, but the emir reportedly declined.
The Qatari Embassy in Abuja allegedly disclosed the Head of State’s position in a statement issued on August 19 according to a report by Newsmen
The Nigerian government’s chosen dates, according to the Emir, were inappropriate.
President Buhari was scheduled to visit the nation on September 11 and 12, 2022, but the Emir requested different dates in 2023.
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A note sent by the Qatar embassy reads: “The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Regions Department) and with reference to the latte’s Note M 403/2022 dated 12/08/2022 informing that H.E Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has accepted to visit Qatar on 11-12 September 2022 on invitation of H.H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.
“Has the honour to communicate that the proposed dates for the visit are not suitable and kindly request the Nigerian side to propose other dates for the visit during the first quarter of the year 2023.
“The Embassy of the State of Qatar avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Regions Department) the assurance of its highest consideration.”
The State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), Amb. Lawal Kazaure and his crew were to fault for the denial, a source also told the publication.
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The source claims that although the Emir was the one who really extended the offer, his staff did not comply with diplomatic protocol by accepting it and suggesting different times.
He claimed that after three months of silence, the State House wrote to the Qatari Embassy in Abuja directly to let them know that President Buhari intended to come between September 11 and 12, 2022. He did, however, claim that the request was unrelated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Unfortunately, the President was snubbed and asked to come next year. They know there will be a newly elected president by that time. It’s a way of telling him, he’s not welcome again. The initial plan was to proceed to New York for UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) from Doha,” he said.
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