Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, has implored the government of Qatar to look into the issue of visiting visas not being granted to Nigerians wishing to visit the Middle East country.
The Senate President made the plea during a meeting with the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, in Doha, according to a statement issued by his media office on Sunday.
Saraki who led a National Assembly delegation to the 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) taking place in Doha, lamented that the visa ban is negatively affecting Nigerians as it prevents them from visiting Qatar.
He noted that lifting the ban would help Qatar to showcase its vast investment opportunities, technological advancement and other achievements to the rest of the world.
He called for more collaboration between the two countries.
Saraki said, “I want to commend your fighting spirit in standing up for your rights. You have demonstrated that you mean well for your people and what you have done is worth emulating.
“Both countries (Nigeria and Qatar) need to strengthen their ties, especially their parliaments. We need to collaborate to achieve many things together. The collaboration will be good for the two countries and for our people.
“I want to make an appeal that the visa restrictions placed on Nigerians be lifted. Nigerians are good people and we travel a lot.
“This restriction is not good for both countries and I urge you to reconsider your position on that. The world needs to see the good things you are doing here and lifting your visa ban on Nigerians will encourage more people to come here and enjoy your beautiful country.
“In the area of sports, we need to do more together. Nigeria is a sport-loving country. We have talented people in various parts of the world, including Qatar, doing great things in sports. If we collaborate, we will be able to develop that sector too.”
Responding, Al-Thani, promised to look into the visa restriction and ensure that it is resolved within the shortest time possible.
Other lawmakers on the trip include Yussuff Lasun Suleimon, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senators Duro Faseyi and Ibrahim Rafiu Adebayo.
Representatives Ikon Samuel Okon, Igbokwe Raphael Nnanna, Fulata Abubakar Hassan, Goodhead Boma and Dasuki Abdussammad, are also part of the delegation.
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