INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE OF NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE STATE OF QATAR, HIS EXCELLENCY YAKUBU ABDULLAHI AHMED.

Nigeria attained independence on the 1st of October 1960. This year marks the 61st Independence Day of our great country. A unique nation blessed with abundant human and natural resources that have continued to provide leadership at the global stage and give a sense of pride to the black man. Therefore, on this auspicious occasion in the history of our country, the Embassy of Nigeria in the State of Qatar joins millions of Nigerians in the Diaspora to wish the Government and people of our fatherland Happy Independence Day.
The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar was established to foster good relations between Nigeria and the State of Qatar. The lofty objectives, shared friendship and excellent bilateral relations coupled with cooperation at the multilateral level have continued to wax stronger over the years. This is evidence in the cordial relationship that exists between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Qatar. A good example is high level bilateral engagements between both countries such as the State Visit of President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar in 2016 and the State Visit of His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar to Nigeria in 2019.
The commitment to regional peace and development by the highly respected leaders, their zero tolerance for corruption and their dedication to the implementation of multilateral agreements tailored towards making the world a better place has continued to endear them to their citizens and admirers across the globe.
Also worthy of commendation is the people-oriented and good leadership style of the Amir of Qatar for creating a peaceful environment and providing opportunities for foreign nationals to render professional services in different areas of specialization. There is a teaming population of highly qualified and experienced Nigerian nationals such as medical practitioners, engineers, property development experts and service providers among others that are performing excellently in diverse sectors.
Nigeria is also poised to increase cooperation especially in the areas of Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Mining, and infrastructural development. This informs my strategic engagements upon my assumption of duty with relevant top government functionaries of host authorities and captains of industries to actualize my mandate. We, therefore, encourage Qatari nationals and investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s huge potential.
In terms of Gross Domestic Product, Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and 24th in the world. Blessed with natural resources including a vast endowment of solid minerals such as limestone, gold, diamond, iron ore and tantalite, Nigeria is Africa’s largest exporter of petroleum and natural gas, and one of the leading nations in the world. More so, with a landmass of 923,768 km2, over 85% of which is arable, there is indeed no limit to the country’s agricultural opportunities.
As a country rich in Oil and Gas, investments in the sector offers equally offers huge opportunities that guarantee huge returns on investments especially with the signing into law of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 that guarantees liberalization of the sector.
Nigeria, therefore, continues to provide investment opportunities that are not only unique in the West African sub-region, but also throughout the continent of Africa. What is more, Nigeria’s status as the most populous country in Africa (one in every five black men in the world is a Nigerian) caps the accurate picture of the vast opportunities which Nigeria offers.
The Nigerian Government has deliberately designed investment incentives to support Foreign Direct Investment. While some of these incentives are in the form of tax holidays, exemptions, and reliefs, there are many more that leverage specific government policies, the performance of the companies as well as relevant international investment treaties. Some of such notable incentives are:
Income tax relief for three years and which can be extended for one year and thereafter another for two years – Pioneer Status Incentives.
Zero Import Duty: Zero per cent import duty tariffs (custom, excise and value-added) for import of agricultural equipment and agro-processing equipment.
Increased tariff with an additional levy on any commodity that Nigeria produces (rice, starch, sugar, wheat, tomato etc.) to promote domestic production and local content.
Exemption from Value Added Tax (VAT).
Access to Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme which is up to 75%.
Avoidance of double taxation agreement which eliminates double taxation concerning income and capital gains.
Investment promotion and protection agreement provides reciprocal baseline protections for investments, etc.
To the Nigerian Community in the State of Qatar, which parades an array of seasoned professionals whose activities are coordinated under the auspices of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Qatar Chapter, we are very proud of you and your achievements. We employ you to respect and abide by the rules and regulations of the host country as you continue to fly the flag of your fatherland higher and higher.
In conclusion, I wish to emphasize the fact that, Nigerians are known to be warm, courteous, hardworking and rated the happiest people in the world. The country welcomes visitors and investors with both arms. So, I call on potential investors to visit the Nigerian Embassy in Doha and you will experience an effervescent welcome that will linger with you for a lifetime. Truly, Nigeria is open for business and we welcome you to explore her huge potentials.
Happy Independence Day, Nigeria

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA,
DOHA, QATAR

1ST OCTOBER, 2021