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President Bola Tinubu on Friday reiterated his administration’s commitment to difficult but necessary economic reforms, stating they are aimed at fostering sustainable growth and creating a more investor-friendly environment in Nigeria.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja while receiving Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, a special envoy from the Amir of the State of Qatar, Tinubu acknowledged the hardship caused by recent policy decisions but emphasized their long-term importance.
“We are making efforts to reform our tax system. Going by the experiences of the past and the need to depart from old ways, our reforms have been hard,” Tinubu said, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga. “I made tough decisions so that we could grow. We are gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The President highlighted his administration’s drive to attract foreign investment, particularly by streamlining tax policies and removing bureaucratic barriers that have long discouraged global investors.
“You can’t find a better partner than Nigeria,” he told the visiting delegation. “I always follow the global issues and your efforts. You have to do more in Nigeria to help fight poverty in the humanitarian area. You have done well in developing a knowledge-based economy in Qatar, but what about Nigeria?”
During the meeting, Tinubu pledged to build on the momentum generated by his 2024 state visit to Qatar. He directed key cabinet members—including the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar—to ensure the prompt execution of all bilateral agreements signed with Qatar.
“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. I am also glad that the Amir of Qatar greatly remembers the issues discussed during my visit last year,” he added.
Commending the Gulf state’s role in global peace and human development, Tinubu said, “I am proud of your efforts to bring peace and stability to the world. I see your efforts in human development, peace, and prosperity. Like you, we are sandwiched between the challenge of terrorism and helping our neighbours. We are conscious of who our friends are and those helping us to ameliorate the problems.”
Responding on behalf of the Amir, Dr. Al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, conveyed a message of goodwill and strategic intent. He said a high-level Qatari business delegation would visit Nigeria in the coming weeks to explore investment opportunities in agriculture, food security, and petrochemicals.
“We are proud of the level of relations we have reached with Nigeria. I am very impressed with our partnership with the country, which is not just government-to-government but also people-to-people,” Al-Khulaifi said.
“Our ambassador has been following up with the projects. We have much to do together in agriculture, food, and petrochemicals. We have some companies telling us that we should create a way for them to come into Nigeria.”
He added, “The message I have from His Highness, Amir of Qatar, is that he wants Nigeria to be a strategic partner in Africa.”
Al-Khulaifi, who also oversees mediation efforts in Africa and the Middle East, affirmed Qatar’s interest in deepening cooperation with Nigeria across economic and humanitarian fronts.
The visit marks a renewed phase in diplomatic and economic engagement between the two nations, with both sides pledging to accelerate cooperation and implementation of previously signed agreements.
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