President Bola Tinubu on Friday defended his administration’s economic reforms, stating that he made tough decisions to ensure sustainable growth for Nigeria.
He made this known 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 explained that ongoing reforms aimed at streamlining Nigeria’s tax system have made it easier for foreign investors to do business in the country.
“We are making deliberate efforts to reform our tax system. Given our past experiences and the need to depart from outdated practices, the reforms have been difficult,” the President said.
“I made tough decisions so Nigeria could grow. We are gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
He was quoted in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s openness to deeper foreign partnerships, especially in humanitarian development and economic advancement.
“You won’t find a better partner than Nigeria. I follow global developments closely and recognize your efforts. There’s more to be done in Nigeria to help fight poverty, particularly through humanitarian support,” he added.
“Qatar has done well in building a knowledge-based economy. The question is: how can we replicate such success in Nigeria?”
He further noted that Nigeria’s partnership with Qatar could be strengthened through collaboration in areas such as food sovereignty and economic prosperity.
The President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to building on the momentum generated during his state visit to Qatar in 2024, pledging to implement all bilateral agreements between the two countries.
He directed 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 collaborate for the timely execution of those agreements.
“To every member of this delegation, I extend my gratitude for coming to Nigeria. We are thankful to God for the progress we’ve made as partners in development,” Tinubu said.
“I’m also pleased that the Amir of Qatar recalls the key issues we discussed during my visit last year. Let me commend the strong and brotherly ties between Qatar and Nigeria. Our ambassador knows how seriously I take our relationship, and we are committed to deepening our bilateral cooperation.”
President Tinubu praised the Qatari government’s commitment to global peace and its role in advancing human development.
“I am proud of your government’s efforts to promote peace and stability worldwide. I see your investment in human capital, peace, and prosperity,” he said.
“Like you, we face the dual challenges of terrorism and supporting our neighbors. We are aware of our true allies and appreciate those who are helping us address these challenges.”
Dr. Al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, conveyed the Amir’s strong interest in expanding bilateral cooperation. He announced that a high-level Qatari business delegation would soon visit Nigeria to explore investment opportunities in agriculture, food security, and other critical sectors.
He also relayed the Amir’s desire to strengthen Nigeria-Qatar strategic relations, particularly in peacebuilding, agriculture, and petrochemicals.
“We are proud of the level of relations we’ve reached with Nigeria,” Al-Khulaifi said.
“Our partnership goes beyond government-to-government; it’s also people-to-people. Our ambassador has been actively following up on projects. We have numerous Qatari companies expressing interest in entering the Nigerian market.”
He concluded with a message from the Amir of Qatar:
“His Highness wants Nigeria to be a strategic partner for Qatar in Africa,” Al-Khulaifi said.
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