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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured Qatar that the FCT Administration will take necessary action to address concerns over a parcel of land allocated to the country for its embassy in Abuja.
He gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received the Qatari Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hail, in Abuja, where both sides explored opportunities for cooperation in urban development, infrastructure, investment and transportation.
The ambassador had raised concerns over a court letter challenging Qatar’s ownership of the 8,000-square-metre embassy land, seeking the intervention of the FCT Administration to clarify the matter and enable the country to proceed with its development plans.
Responding, Wike assured the ambassador that the administration would look into the issue and take appropriate action.
“Be assured that nothing will happen. We want to assure you that whatever the issue is, we will take action on it,” the minister said.
Beyond the land dispute, Wike called for a strategic partnership between Abuja and Doha to exchange expertise in urban planning, infrastructure development and the creation of modern cities.
He said Qatar’s experience in developing urban infrastructure and hosting major international events offered valuable lessons for Abuja as the FCT Administration pursued its development agenda.
The minister disclosed that the administration was willing to send a delegation to Qatar to study its urban planning models, transportation systems and other development initiatives that could be adapted to the Nigerian capital.
“We want to partner with you. We will come and see how we can visit Qatar and see what they have done in terms of developing new cities. Planning and the concepts are very key,” he said.
Wike also expressed the administration’s readiness to facilitate cooperation with Qatar, stressing the importance of protecting legitimate business and investment interests in the FCT.
He further proposed engagement with Qatar Charity to explore opportunities for expanding the organisation’s interventions in education, healthcare, housing and community infrastructure.
According to him, partnerships with international development organisations could complement ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and social services across the territory.
Earlier, Al-Hail expressed Qatar’s interest in deepening diplomatic and economic relations with Nigeria, particularly through cooperation in Abuja’s urban development and investment sectors.
He proposed a formal partnership between Abuja and Doha to promote the exchange of expertise in city planning, transportation, infrastructure and investment.
The ambassador highlighted Qatar’s investments in modern transport networks, educational institutions and aviation infrastructure, saying its experience could provide useful insights for Abuja’s development.
He called for discussions towards a cooperation agreement between the relevant authorities in both cities and expressed readiness to review a draft agreement and advance arrangements for a possible visit by FCT officials to Qatar.
Al-Hail also highlighted investment opportunities available to Nigerians in Qatar, noting that reforms had been introduced to attract foreign investors and encourage greater participation in the country’s property and business sectors.
On air connectivity, he said Qatar Airways operated flights linking Doha with Abuja and Lagos, adding that the airline planned to increase capacity to accommodate growing passenger demand.
He said stronger ties between the two countries could expand opportunities for trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
