The Federal Government and the Government of Qatar are currently in talks on partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Fund for significant investments of about $5 billion in the Nigerian economy.
This was made public by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Sunday.
Onyeama, while speaking at a send-off dinner organised in honour of Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to the State of Qatar, Ambassador Yakubu Ahmed, added that ambassadorial appointments under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration are based on merit and professionalism.
Recall that Sunday Ahmed is the outgoing Director of Protocol (DOP) at the State House.
The Deputy Director (Information) of the State House Media Office, Abiodun Oladunjoye, had in a release stated that the Foreign Affairs Minister, recalled that President Buhari had visited the State of Qatar in 2016 and the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani, reciprocated with a state visit in 2019.
On criteria for appointment of ambassadors, Onyeama said track record of diligence, experience and professionalism in the Foreign Service are criteria for ambassadorial appointments.
Recall that reactions had trailed the recent appointment of retired service chiefs as ambassadors, drawing widespread critisms from the general public on the place of career diplomats in appointments.
