Tinubu Prepares to Waste Taxpayers’ Money on a 37-Man Delegate to Tour Qatar, including Son

Tinubu, in a bid to carry out a State Visit to Doha, prepared a 37-man delegate list, including Seyi and Yinka Tinubu to tour Qatar despite the host country’s Note Verbale, which rejected the private-sector-led Business and Investment Forum to be held alongside the visit.

Following the leaked correspondence with reference number: QEA/FA/057/24 as issued by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja, the Tinubu-led administration issued a statement stating the rejection is not in any way a snub to the regime.

The Qatar government has established that there is no agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection, an investment proposed by the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

In part, the leaked correspondence reads:

The Embassy has the honour to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologizes that it will not be able to hold a Business and Investment Forum as proposed by the Nigerian side due to the following reasons: Unfortunately, there is no agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection. His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.

Despite the stance of the Qatar government, Tinubu insists on visiting the State along with a 37-man delegate.

Tinubu’s 37-Man Delegate List

However, in subsequent leaks, the delegate list entails private individuals, including Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, and two other relatives scheduled to leave Nigeria for Qatar at taxpayers’ expense during the visit.

While this reveals the individuals, it has also raised controversy around the government’s commitment to cutting down on the cost of governance among Nigerians.

However, more leaks in a letter dated 20th February 2024 revealed one Rabiu Sulaiman wrote to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa at Qatar’s embassy in Abuja, to notify the Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber, Mohammed Bin Ahmed Twar Al Kuwari on the agreed Memorandum of Understanding awaiting both party’s signatories.

Following the leaks as revealed by a concerned citizen, Harrison, on his X handle, Netizens have expressed displeasure at such extravagant expense, especially on non-governmental affiliated personnel who made the delegate list.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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