The FG has disclosed that the Middle-East nation of Qatar is set to invest in the Nigerian economy the sum of $5 billion.

The Federal Government has said that the oil-rich state of Qatar plans to invest $5 billion in the Nigerian economy.

According to a statement by the Deputy Director of Information, State House, Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye, this disclosure was made by the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, while speaking at a farewell dinner in honour of Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to the state of Qatar, Ambassador Yakubu Ahmed, who is also the outgoing Director of Protocol at State House.

Onyeama said that there had been discussions with Qatar on partnership with Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, for significant investments in the region of $5 billion in the Nigerian economy.

He said, “Qatar is a weighty and strategic country and very strategic in that part of the world and we are putting our best feet forward to advance the interest of our country economically and in other areas.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister had recalled that President Buhari 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.

What this means

This is going to be a huge boost to Nigeria’s drive for foreign investment and help significantly in the country’s push for economic development.

Qatar which has a very high Human Development Index (HDI) is regarded as the world’s third-largest natural gas and oil reserves with a population of about 2.8 million people as of 2019.

Investment Champion: Geoffrey Onyema, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria

The investment by the wealthy Middle East country will add to Nigeria’s diversification efforts as such investments are expected in the area of oil and gas, manufacturing, power/utilities and so on.

Source:- Nairametrix