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Qatar rejected Buhari’s request to visit Doha due to FIFA World Cup – Presidency

Qatari Emir and President Muhammadu Buhari

The presidency has clarified the rejection of President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposed visit to Qatar.

According to the presidency, the Qatari government raised concerns that Mr Buhari’s proposed visit dates were “too close” to the upcoming World Cup.

Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup from November 20 to December 18.

“The visit to Qatar was not at the instance of Nigeria but on the invitation of His Majesty, the Emir who is the monarch,” Mr Buhari’s media aide Shehu Garba told Peoples Gazette Monday evening.

“The Embassy of the State of Qatar on August 19th, 2022 wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying, ‘We have 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’,” Mr Shehu explained to The Gazette. “The Qataris explained that the dates chosen by Nigeria were too close to the World Cup tournament which is being hosted by them.”

On Monday, Sahara Reporters reported that it had obtained a document showing that Mr Buhari’s proposed visit dates were rejected by the Qatari government last month. Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, rejected a proposed visit to the country by Mr Buhari, asking the Nigerian leader to request another date in 2023.

“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 document was quoted as saying.

The report cited an unnamed presidential source who alleged that the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), Ambassador Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure and his team “didn’t follow the usual diplomatic channel to accept and propose alternative dates.”

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“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 said.

 

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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