The government of Qatar has refused President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to visit the Middle Eastern country.
According to a document released by Sahara Reporters, the Arabian nation dismissed the request on grounds that the application came too late.
Mr. Buhari was asked to apply again in 2023.
The document read, “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 latter’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 report further noted that the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), Ambassador Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure “didn’t follow the usual diplomatic channel to accept and propose alternative dates.”
“After over 3 months without a word, the State House wrote directly to the Qatar Embassy in Abuja to inform them that President Buhari wants to visit from 11-12 September 2022. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not involved. Our Embassy in Doha, capital of Qatar was not also consulted,” the report added.
