Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has assured the State of Qatar that President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies are intensifying efforts to address insecurity and restore peace across the country.
She gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving the Ambassador of Qatar to Nigeria, Mr. Yousef Bin Hassan Al-Hail, and the embassy’s Consul, Mr. Khalifa Al-Khalifa, during a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the First Lady identified terrorism and kidnapping as the major security challenges confronting the country but expressed confidence that ongoing efforts by the government and security agencies would yield positive results.
She noted that Nigeria remains a peaceful and hospitable nation despite its current security concerns and emphasised the administration’s commitment to overcoming the challenges.
“While we are experiencing terrorism and kidnapping, the President and members of the armed forces are doing everything possible to tackle these challenges. We remain hopeful and believe Nigeria will take its rightful place among the comity of nations,” she said.
Mrs. Tinubu also called for stronger bilateral relations between Nigeria and Qatar, stressing the need to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest for the benefit of both countries.
Highlighting the nation’s tourism potential, the First Lady urged young Nigerians to explore opportunities within the sector, describing tourism as one of the country’s greatest untapped resources.
According to her, Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, diverse traditions, cuisine and natural attractions possess immense potential for job creation and economic development.
She encouraged young people to travel across different parts of the country to appreciate its diversity and discover opportunities that could contribute to national growth.
Earlier, the Qatari Ambassador commended Nigeria’s strategic importance in Africa and called for enhanced collaboration between both nations, particularly in aviation, tourism and economic development.
Al-Hail described Nigeria as a country blessed with vast human and natural resources and acknowledged its significant role in the continent’s economic and political landscape.
The envoy also urged Nigerians to avoid cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation on social media, noting that such practices often create negative perceptions about the country abroad.
He revealed that his personal experience in Nigeria had been positive and contrary to some of the negative narratives he encountered before his arrival.
According to him, Nigeria possesses a welcoming environment, beautiful landscapes and warm people, adding that stronger people-to-people and economic ties would benefit both nations.
The ambassador further advocated for increased flight frequencies between Qatar and major Nigerian cities, including Abuja and Lagos, to boost tourism, trade and bilateral engagement.
The meeting underscored ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Qatar while highlighting the Federal Government’s commitment to improving security and expanding economic opportunities through tourism and international partnerships.
