DOHA: The ambassador of the federal Republic of Nigeria scotched rumours that visit and work visas for Nigerians coming to Qatar had been suspended because of Ebola fears.
Shuaibu Ahmed was addressing community members at a social and business networking event organised by the community’s umbrella association Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO-QATAR) in Doha on Friday.
He dismissed the rumours among the community of some Nigerians being turned away from the Hamad International Airport because of Ebola.
“There were six cases of people turned away at the Airport but for different reasons and not related to Ebola,” he said. “Four of these had come to Qatar without an entry visa while the other two had Saudi Arabia visas and thought they could come to Qatar as well.”
He said that there had been only 20 Ebola infections and 8 deaths in Nigeria and the country managed to fight the disease on time. He also said the Qatar government had not stopped issuing visas and even Qatar Airways did not stop its flights to the country.
Ahmed also appealed to his people in Doha to behave well and keep the good reputation of a visitor in the country.
“We are here as guests of Qatar government and we need to keep ourselves as guests,” he said.
Regarding the recent arrests of Nigerians in Qatar, the ambassador said 55 people had been arrested because all of them had their visas expired. He said that after the embassy intervened 17 people were allowed to renew their visas and the others returned home.
The ambassador said that there was a growing appreciation of the Nigerian people in Qatar especially as more interactions and more people visit Nigeria. He said that Nigerian people working in different occupations in Qatar also had a responsibility to foster a good image of the community.
Ahmed said that the embassy was doing its best to help its people and that recently they had the Nigerian Immigration officials coming to Doha to help renew passports and issue passports to the newborn. He, however, urged the people to be understanding where the embassy fell short of their expectations saying that the embassy itsself had challenges and limitations.
One of the embassy’s challenges was that it was not a fully functioning diplomatic mission with all departments but rather a smart mission with most of its focus on economic diplomacy. He said that as part of their economic achievements to the country so far where convincing Qatar National Bank (QNB) and they recently bought 23 percent stakes in Nigeria’s Eco-bank. Qatar airways had also given additional flights frequency to Nigeria and Hassad Food was also investing in agricultural projects.
At the event, NIDO-QATAR executive members were dissolved and a care-taker committee chosen until elections for new executive members takes place next year.
Engineer O J Miller, the outgoing president of the association, said that the more than decade long association was essential in helping Nigerians in need of jobs or air tickets when they faced deportations and also in lobbying the government of Nigeria to open up an embassy in Doha. Registration is open to Nigerians living in Qatar by paying QR100.
The Peninsula
