Nigeria and Qatar have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, with a focus on expanding employment opportunities for Nigerians and deepening collaboration in the energy sector.
The development follows high-level engagements in Doha between the Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, Ambassador Yakubu Mahmood, the Qatari Minister of Labour, Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri, and the leadership of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
A statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar through the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kemiebi Ebienfa, said discussions with the Qatari Minister of Labour centred on enhancing labour cooperation between both countries.
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“Central to the discussions was the creation of more employment opportunities for qualified Nigerians in Qatar, in line with Nigeria’s 4D Doctrine of foreign policy, which places strong emphasis on engagement with the Nigerian diaspora as a catalyst for national development.
“The talks also underscored the commitment of both countries to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships that support workforce mobility and economic cooperation,” Ebienfa said.
In a separate engagement, Ambassador Mahmood hosted a delegation from the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), led by its Secretary-General, Dr Philip Mshelbila.
The GECF Secretariat, headquartered in Doha, serves as a platform for cooperation among major gas-producing countries. Nigeria maintains a prominent role in the organisation, with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, serving as Chairman of the Forum’s ministerial meetings.
The statement noted that the meeting highlighted Nigeria’s active participation in global energy diplomacy and its commitment to strengthening collaboration within the gas sector while advancing national economic interests through international partnerships.
