Wike Assures Qatar Over Abuja Embassy Land Dispute, Proposes Partnership With Doha

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has assured the government of Qatar that the FCT Administration will address concerns over a parcel of land allocated to the country for its embassy in Abuja.

Wike gave the assurance during a meeting with Qatar’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Ahmed Al-Hail, in Abuja, where both officials discussed diplomatic relations, investment opportunities and cooperation in urban development.

The meeting was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the minister’s media aide, Lere Olayinka. According to the statement, Al-Hail raised concerns about a court letter challenging Qatar’s ownership of the approximately 8,000-square-metre embassy land and sought clarification from the FCT Administration to enable the country to proceed with its development plans.

Responding, Wike assured the ambassador that the administration would take action to address the matter. “Be assured that nothing will happen. We want to assure you that whatever the issue is, we will take action on it,” he was quoted as saying.

Beyond the land issue, the minister called for closer cooperation between Abuja and Doha, particularly in urban planning, transportation and infrastructure development. He commended Qatar’s experience in developing modern cities and hosting major international events, noting that Nigeria could learn from its approach to urban development.

Wike also expressed the FCT Administration’s readiness to send a delegation to Qatar to study its city-planning models, transport systems and other development initiatives that could be adapted to Abuja. He said the administration was interested in a partnership that would support development while protecting Qatar’s legitimate business and investment interests.

The minister further proposed engagements with Qatar Charity to explore possible development projects in education, healthcare, housing and community infrastructure. He said cooperation with development partners could support efforts to improve public services and living conditions across the territory.

Earlier, Al-Hail proposed a formal partnership between Abuja and Doha to promote the exchange of expertise in urban planning, infrastructure, transportation and investment. He said Qatar’s experience in developing transport networks, educational facilities and aviation infrastructure could offer useful lessons for Nigeria’s capital.

The ambassador also highlighted investment opportunities for Nigerian businesses in Qatar, citing reforms intended to attract foreign investors and expand participation in the property and business sectors. He called for discussions towards a cooperation agreement between the relevant authorities in both cities and expressed readiness to review a draft agreement and facilitate a possible visit by FCT officials to Qatar.

Al-Hail also said Qatar Airways operated services connecting Doha with Abuja and Lagos, adding that the airline planned to increase capacity to meet passenger demand. He expressed optimism that stronger relations between Nigeria and Qatar could expand opportunities for trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people exchanges.