The Nigerian Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Yakubu Ahmed has revealed that 7,000 Nigerians are currently residing in Qatar, erking out a living in various fields, ranging from healthcare, safety, oil and gas, aviation, construction, among other sectors.
Yakubu gave the information while playing host to President Muhammadu Buhari during a Town Hall meeting as part of his visit to the State of Qatar.
Recall that a good number of Nigerians have been migrating to other countries, especially to Europe and other advanced economies in search of greener pastures, a trend that has now been coined as “japa” syndrome in Nigeria.
Even though some Nigerians back home are protesting what they described as a flawed electoral process in the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, Ahmed said Buhari must be lauded for the success of the recent polls.
According to the Diplomat, the process has gone to prove that Nigeria’s democracy is indeed strong but prayed for an equally successful governorship and State Assembly elections.
He told the outgoing President, “I’m proud to inform you that the majority of our nationals in Doha are professionals who have excelled in their chosen careers, playing critical roles in healthcare, safety, oil and gas, aviation, construction, among other sectors”.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, on Wednesday morning, quoted Ambassador Ahmed as saying that Nigeria and the State of Qatar have maintained good bilateral relationship since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2013.
His words, “There are currently about 7,000 Nigerians residing in Qatar, and gainfully engaged in diverse areas of human endeavours”.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community in the country, Dr Arabo Ibrahim, a Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, noted that he had every reason to appreciate the President for restoring peace in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.
According to him, “Our people were chased out of Mubi in Adamawa State by Boko Haran terrorists, peace is back. Now we go there and sleep peacefully. There is a lot of food now. People from the neighboring countries even come to buy food in Nigeria”..
Another community member, Professor Akintunde Akinade, also thanked President Buhari for conducting an electoral process which he “alluded to as one of the best”.
He said, “Nigeria has gone through elections several times and we all know what it’s all about. This is an election where money has taken a back seat. We’re very grateful to see what has happened this time in the presidential election. Thank you for bringing sanity to the country and the electoral process. We wish that this would continue.”
Meanwhile, Buhari has enjoined Nigerians living in the diaspora to support the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he takes over the reins of government on May 29.
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