The Presidency, on Monday, confirmed the postponement of a trip by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to the State of Qatar.
The trip which was earlier scheduled for September 11 and 12 followed an invitation to Buhari by the Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
A top Presidency source confirmed to our correspondent that although both leaders looked forward to the meeting, the timing was no longer feasible owing to several factors, especially ongoing preparations for the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, beginning September 13, 2022 in New York, USA.
With the UNGA starting within the same week of the proposed meeting, the Qatari government suggested a rescheduling.
According to an earlier report by an online news platform, Sahara Reporters, the Nigerian government had proposed September 11 and 12, 2022 for Buhari’s visit to Qatar.
However, Al-Thani, in a note verbale said the dates are not suitable for him and requested for other dates in Q1 2023.
The note verbale dated August 19, 2022, read in part: “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.”
On why the Qatari government proposed another date in 2023, The PUNCH observed that the possible cause could be its preparations to host the 2022 World Cup in November this year.
In 2010, Qatar won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup after defeating the USA, South Korea, Japan and Australia, in a ballot of the Football Organisation’s 22 executive members.
It would be the first Arab state to host the tournament which holds from November 21 to December 18.
But Qatar is not the only State Buhari has been invited to this year.
In February 2022, while visiting Brussels, the Belgian Capital, the President accepted an invitation from his Czech counterpart, Milos Zeman, to visit his country sometime in the year.
Buhari had welcomed the Czech leader’s interest in more robust collaboration and partnership in military cooperation and especially in equipment to enhance Nigeria’s security capabilities.
After a bilateral meeting on February 17, 2011, both leaders renewed mutual commitment towards the Joint Commission mechanism to enhance a qualitative relationship, diplomatically and people-to-people.
As of this report, it is unclear what dates have been set aside for the President’s trip to Prague, the Czech capital.
Nonetheless, he will join other leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. His 14th international trip in 2022.
Others include: Portugal, Belgium, Ethiopia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Côte d’Ivoire, the United Arab Emirates, Equatorial Guinea, Spain, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal and most recently, Liberia where he delivered a lecture on security and fair elections.
