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Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi - Politics - Nairaland

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Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Kelklein(m): 10:56pm On Mar 03, 2016
Buhari's Questionable Deal with Qatar -written by Olusegun Adeniyi

President Muhammadu Buhari was in Qatar last week and the major news that came out of the visit was the signing of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Qatar to pave way for direct flights between major cities of both countries.

While I continue to wonder whether any due diligence was done by the relevant authorities before committing Nigeria to such an agreement, there are pertinent questions as to whose idea this BASA deal is. Since Nigeria currently has no national carrier, it stands to reason that Qatar initiated the idea and that is where the problem lies: I don’t believe that the interest of our people was served by the agreement.

Early in January this year, I got a mail from a lady, Mrs Chioma Okigbo, narrating one of those unpleasant experiences to which Nigerians are usually subjected in their own country. On receiving the mail (with supporting documents), I immediately forwarded them to THISDAY aviation editor, Chinedu Eze, asking him to investigate the claims and give me a feedback. Since Mrs Okigbo’s enclosed her phone number, I also called to assure her I would follow up on the matter. It took Chinedu a week to get back to me but he confirmed Mrs Okigbo’s story. Now, this was what she wrote in her mail:

“Dear Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi,

“I felt a need to share an event that happened to me with you. On 19th November, 2015, I accessed Qatar Airways website with the intention of purchasing a ticket to visit Doha and Dubai. The visit to Dubai was the major reason for the trip as we had planned a reunion of our secondary school classmates from all over the world in that location. Having a friend working in Doha, I opted to leave Nigeria some days earlier than the planned reunion dates of 25th – 28th February.

“Before buying my ticket, I confirmed from the website that the airline was able to process visa for visitors to Qatar; in fact this information was very prominently displayed on their website. I proceeded to purchase my ticket and on Tuesday, January 19th, a month to my travel date, I visited Qatar Airways website again, this time to complete the visa process.

The site redirected me to a website called Discover Qatar, which I believe is the official information center for all visitors to Qatar and had been set up by the Qatari government to provide accurate and timely travel information to visitors. I was required to complete a simple form but the first unpleasant surprise was that Nigeria was not listed among the countries under the pull down menu for Nationality.

“I found this curious and told my classmates that I had planned the Doha trip with a friend (who would be flying in from London) and she suggested that a country called Niceau was their own clever way of writing Nigeria. I decided however to contact the center and make proper inquiries.

“To my shock and utter dismay, I received an almost instant response from the website informing me that the government of Qatar does not issue visas to Nigerian nationals. This response upset me a great deal and raised a number of questions in my head: If we, as Nigerians are not good enough to visit their country, what exactly are they doing running an airline in ours?

“What is the Nigerian Government’s stance on Qataris visiting Nigeria? Do we issue visas to them or are they also not allowed in Nigeria? Why is the Federal Government of Nigeria allowing a company to run a business in Nigeria, whilst their host country feels we are all criminals?

“Anyway, I went to the Qatar Airways office where, by the way, I met some really nice Nigerians, and asked for a full refund. To add insult to injury, the airline will be deducting a 10 percent fee for cancellation! Where in the world is this fair and equitable? I felt that I needed to share this with you as I do not know the number of other unsuspecting Nigerians that would be affected by such discrimination.”


When THISDAY sought explanation for such discrimination against our nationals, the Qatar Airways Lagos Airport Manager, who simply gave his name as Hashim said: “for a Nigerian to get a Qatari visa, he ought to have a sponsor who is resident in Qatar; that is the new policy for those countries that are not listed among the nations that its citizens are allowed to visit the country (Qatar).”

And it is this same Qatar with which Nigeria has just signed a BASA deal!

For those who still may not get it, what we are dealing with here is not the usual impunity of some foreign companies operating in our country, the summary of Mrs Okigbo’s ordeal is that Qatar Airways operates and makes money from Nigeria yet our citizens are considered not good enough to enter their country like other nationals.

There are several critical issues here for both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consumer Protection Council but I will highlight only two. First, Mrs Okigbo was practically fleeced of 10 percent of her ticket money because she did not embark on a flight to a country that would not give her a visa. Two, it is an official policy of Qatar to discriminate against nationals of Nigeria.
I believe that the humiliating experience of Mrs Chioma Okigbo should not be seen as a personal insult, it is a serious affront to our country. What is perhaps more worrying is that the presidential statement announcing the BASA deal went further to disclose that Nigeria has commenced discussions on partnership (with Qatar, I imagine) towards establishing a national carrier without providing any details.

Given that the nation’s aviation industry is currently going through financial crisis with many of our local airlines highly indebted, the Buhari administration has refused to answer the most pertinent question about this idea of national carrier that is being driven more by nostalgia than economic common sense: On what model will the flag carrier be based and what are the funding plans, especially at a time like this?

Again, coming up with a prestige project at a time Nigeria needs all the resources it can muster to meet pressing national demands betrays a clear lack of seriousness on the part of this administration. Against the background that even countries like Italy and others that are better managed have found running airlines a difficult proposition with most of them divesting from the business, I still fail to understand what is driving this obsession with national carrier. However, more pertinent is the question of why the latest announcement was made in Doha after signing the BASA deal.

Since our international aviation sector is very lucrative (Nigerians travel a lot and to everywhere in the world) and we currently do not have a national carrier, the implication of any BASA deal with Qatar can only be to the advantage of Qatar Airways. While I should not begrudge them for that, I hope the Nigerian authorities also have ready answers for the questions posed by Mrs. Chioma Okigbo. Yet, there is something in this untidy affair that should make one very sad. Apparently because we are now looking anywhere and everywhere for “foreign investors”, we don’t have a sense of shame anymore. But just how cheap can a nation be?

Source: http://www.elombah.com/index.php/opinion/5640-buhari-s-questionable-deal-with-qatar-by-olusegun-adeniyi

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Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Progress2468(m): 11:10pm On Mar 03, 2016
Me self tire

This is what you get when a government belittles itself
To the ridicule of the international community

If u are not begging UK today it will be the US twomorw,
or saudi Arabia overmorow

Just continue

35 Likes 8 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by okosodo: 11:33pm On Mar 03, 2016
you still dont get it, islam

87 Likes 7 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by kestolove95(m): 11:37pm On Mar 03, 2016
As long as it will make nigeria great...no problem

8 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Gerryboy(m): 11:37pm On Mar 03, 2016
Dis is d highest rate of insult we as a country can get 4rm other country.

76 Likes 6 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by WATCHOVER(m): 11:58pm On Mar 03, 2016
Buhari planning Islimization.

38 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by RZArecta(m): 12:11am On Mar 04, 2016
kestolove95:
As long as it will make nigeria great...no problem
you obviously don't get/comprehend what was written in the article

173 Likes 14 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by AceRoyal: 12:21am On Mar 04, 2016
Very Revealing........Time will definitely tell the true intentions of this government!

"No smoke without fire".tongue

30 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by kenny987(f): 12:25am On Mar 04, 2016
This is what comes of going cap-in-hand to beg for crumbs as the president has a penchant for doing whilst blinded by religious affinity.

I have always been of the opinion that we have what it takes to get our act right from within and make our country more attractive for business and investments. Countries and foreign investors with cash to burn and lookin for good profit will come to u! That way u negotiate from a position of strength rather than appear completely dependent and at the mercy of those you go around begging.

Buhari has zero sense of diplomacy and PR so he's a poor salesman, unable to promote the beauty of his country and prospects for viable investments so all the jumping around amounts to zilch or at best, conditions that keep the Nigerian ppl at a a perpetual disadvantage.

How can he sign such a deal when Nigerians cannot be issues visas on decent terms? Did he and his motley crew even do proper research to find out areas of negotiation that favour Nigeria?

81 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Bekwarra(m): 12:53am On Mar 04, 2016
Pathetic

Buharists live some of the most pathetic and deluded lives on earth. They defend anything so long it's coming from their god. They don't weigh issues against commonsense and conscience. So far it's coming from their god, their brains switch off and go on a very long recess, no wonder they call them ZOMBIES. That name is too apt. Meanwhile their god has proved time and over again that he's limited in intelligence and knowledge; he's yet to metamorphose into the 21st Century. National Carrier my foot. Dude's only interested in taking things back to the "Glory Days of the 80s". Well I don't blame him, I blame the zombies chest-beating for a man with a RAM of 520 MB whom cruel fate has foisted on us as our president. Jonathan was bad, this man is terribly worse. They want their country to be respected in the world as one of the emerging powers, but they want someone to present a NEPA bill as certificate in order to rule them. Then Plato who advocated for philosopher kings must be weeping in his grave now. Awon oloriburuku eni adanu. Sai Barber ko Sai hairdresser ni.

55 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by DIKEnaWAR: 1:01am On Mar 04, 2016
Nemo dat quod non habet - you cannot give what you don't have.

Buhari as President of Nigeria is taking us back 50 years. It is a shame this is happening in the 21st century, when other nations have embraced dynamic and modern policies of governance.

38 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by ellechrystal(f): 2:28am On Mar 04, 2016
kestolove95:
As long as it will make nigeria great...no problem
learn to read n not swallow headlines,

71 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by ellechrystal(f): 2:31am On Mar 04, 2016
this Buhari is extremely confused, n his religious bigoty will land him in a place he will regret soon, am sure as far as its a muslim country, d deal must b signed.

46 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by camelus: 4:26am On Mar 04, 2016
okosodo:
you still dont get it, islam
Aslam!!!
Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Nobody: 4:37am On Mar 04, 2016
It sucks to be a Nigerian right now.

29 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by onatisi(m): 4:43am On Mar 04, 2016
kenny987:
This is what comes of going cap-in-hand to beg for crumbs as the president has a penchant for doing whilst blinded by religious affinity.

I have always been of the opinion that we have what it takes to get our act right fron within and make our country more attractive for business and investments. Countries and foreign investors with cash to burn and lookin for good profit will come to u! That way u negotiate from a position of strength rather than appear completely dependent and at the mercy of those you go around begging.

Buhari has zero sense of diplomacy and PR so he's a poor salesman, unable to promote the beauty of his country and prospects for viable investments so all the jumping around amounts to zilch or at best, conditions that keep the Nigerian ppl at a a perpetual disadvantage.

How can he sign such a deal when Nigerians cannot be issues visas on decent terms? Did he and his motley crew even do proper research to find out areas of negotiation that favour Nigeria?

When I gave this warning some few weeks back ,many people didn't know what I saw or meant,now ppl are beginning to see it. Just Wait till June ,many Nigerians will regret ever hearing the name buhari talk less of voting for him

38 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by luvmijeje(f): 4:55am On Mar 04, 2016
President Muhammadu Buhari was in Qatar last week and the major news that came out of the visit was the signing of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Qatar to pave way for direct flights between major cities of both countries.

Is the agreement between Nigeria airway and Qatar airway? Does the agreement means other airways owned and based in Nigeria can't travel directly to Qatar? Do Qatar have only one carrier operating in her airspace? If No do Qatar airway have have an exclusive right to travel into this country?

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Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by aresa: 5:04am On Mar 04, 2016
luvmijeje:


Is the agreement between Nigeria airway and Qatar airway? Does the agreement means other airways owned and based in Nigeria can't travel directly to Qatar? Do Qatar have only one carrier operating in her airspace? If No do Qatar airway have have an exclusive right to travel into this country?






Covers airlines based in both countries.

1 Like

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by luvmijeje(f): 5:27am On Mar 04, 2016
aresa:




Covers airlines based in both countries.

So why this long article? Criticising for the sake of criticism.

8 Likes 1 Share

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Nobody: 6:09am On Mar 04, 2016
We elected a 1985 president who believes the country can only survive by running after foreign investors no matter how suspicious whatever pact signed is. I have not been surprised by his traveling about. This is how he believed it is done in in the 80's, and this is how he still believes it should be done now and his gullible supporters like i once was will tell you 'he's strengthening international relations' 11 months after coming to power. I only regretted supporting the man as it was a choice of the devil and the deep deep blue sea. Turns out we elected a major disaster and a potential catastrophe. It won't be long before we hear that Nigeria has been sold to the highest bidder.

37 Likes 6 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Nobody: 6:11am On Mar 04, 2016
..
Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Kondomatic(m): 6:15am On Mar 04, 2016
RZArecta:
you obviously don't get/comprehend what was written in the article
She's a Buharist and Buharists believes that whatever Buhari does is good.

17 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by aresa: 6:25am On Mar 04, 2016
luvmijeje:


So why this long article? Criticising for the sake of criticism.


Everything is subject to attacks and criticism in Nigerian today regardless. There are too many attention seekers competing for the attention of ignorants and low intellects..

Even if the deal was negotiated and signed by God, criticism is still a must with these trolls..

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Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by banki(m): 6:32am On Mar 04, 2016
MrLouisVanGaal:
We elected a 1985 president who believes the country can only survive by running after foreign investors no matter how suspicious whatever pact signed is. I have not been surprised by his traveling about. This is how he believed it is done in in the 80's, and this is how he still believes it should be done now and his gullible supporters like i once was will tell you 'he's strengthening international relations' 11 months after coming to power. I only regretted supporting the man as it was a choice of the devil and the deep deep blue sea. Turns out we elected a major disaster and a potential catastrophe. It won't be long before we hear that Nigeria has been sold to the highest bidder.

What exactly do you guys want
Oil prices are low you complain
He implements 50naira stamp duties to generate income you complain
He goes and signs bilateral trade agreement you complain
He wants to borrow from world bank you complain
He wants to borrow from America you complain
He collects money from looters you complain
Ok how does he fund the budget?
How does he keep nigeria running?
He bans importation of things that can be produced in nigeria you complain,
He bans importation of egg chicken palm oil, nigerians respond by increasing the price of egg pure water and chicken!

So I ask what do we actually want

35 Likes 6 Shares

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by VcStunner(m): 6:35am On Mar 04, 2016
Now this is really provoking.... the recent visits to the middle east is becoming kinda suspicious. 2 already to Saudi Arabia, 1 to Egypt, Qatar, now turkey decided to visit. Issioraii

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Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by Opinedecandid(m): 6:41am On Mar 04, 2016
God will save us from this evil Government.

May they not succeed to short-change us and circumvent us, and mortgage our future at the same time.

How will we suffer now and suffer then?
God forbid.

7 Likes 1 Share

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by blackpanda: 6:49am On Mar 04, 2016
OP I think you are mixing two different issues. BASA Agreement and issuance of Visa are 2 different things. Every country has there own policy on issuance of visa to another country, this does not imply discrimination. Try applying for american visa or south african visa and see how difficult it is. Visa policy is completely different from BASA. Nigeria also has their own visa policy too, and it is very stringent for some countries. And while we may not have a national carrier, Arik Air has since been operating unofficially as Nigeria's national carrier. However, there are plans in the works to unveil our official carrier soon.

Mrs okigbo case is regrettable and i believe its something than can be negotiated between the two countries. I think the real problem here was misinformation or lack thereof. Never apply for visa from an airline's website, they might not be able to give specific accurate info since its not only nigerians looking to travel there.

18 Likes 1 Share

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by blackpanda: 6:53am On Mar 04, 2016
[s]
MrLouisVanGaal:
We elected a 1985 president who believes the country can only survive by running after foreign investors no matter how suspicious whatever pact signed is. I have not been surprised by his traveling about. This is how he believed it is done in in the 80's, and this is how he still believes it should be done now and his gullible supporters like i once was will tell you 'he's strengthening international relations' 11 months after coming to power. I only regretted supporting the man as it was a choice of the devil and the deep deep blue sea. Turns out we elected a major disaster and a potential catastrophe. It won't be long before we hear that Nigeria has been sold to the highest bidder.
[/s]


Stop talking trash. You dont know what you are saying since when did going after foreign investors become a bad thing Smh

11 Likes

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by OAFMods: 6:53am On Mar 04, 2016
kenny987:
This is what comes of going cap-in-hand to beg for crumbs as the president has a penchant for doing whilst blinded by religious affinity.

I have always been of the opinion that we have what it takes to get our act right fron within and make our country more attractive for business and investments. Countries and foreign investors with cash to burn and lookin for good profit will come to u! That way u negotiate from a position of strength rather than appear completely dependent and at the mercy of those you go around begging.

Buhari has zero sense of diplomacy and PR so he's a poor salesman, unable to promote the beauty of his country and prospects for viable investments so all the jumping around amounts to zilch or at best, conditions that keep the Nigerian ppl at a a perpetual disadvantage.

How can he sign such a deal when Nigerians cannot be issues visas on decent terms? Did he and his motley crew even do proper research to find out areas of negotiation that favour Nigeria?

And you my friend as nothing but a lousy mouth "figuratively" . Diplomatic policy was obviously skewed in favour of Qatar long before Buhari came on the scene. The least he can do is bring some amount of parity with the official deals initiated btw the 2 countries now.

While some of you have chosen to blame Buhari for all the woes prevalent in Nigeria not minding the fact he did not create these problems you should at the other end have the coutesy not to rubbish a deal you are uninformed about and desist from raising meaningless uproar at the slightest given opportunity to wail.

11 Likes

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by hesiod: 6:58am On Mar 04, 2016
Most countries are coming up even with ridiculous measures to stop Nigerians from accessing their countries. It is a known fact that the green passport is fast becoming a contraband.

Who shall rescue Nigeria?

2 Likes

Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by hesiod: 7:03am On Mar 04, 2016
OAFMods:


And you my friend as nothing but a lousy mouth "figuratively" . Diplomatic policy was obviously skewed in favour of Qatar long before Buhari came on the scene. The least he can do is bring some amount of parity with the official deals initiated btw the 2 countries now.

While some of you have chosen to blame Buhari for all the woes prevalent in Nigeria not minding the fact he did not create these problems you should at the other end have the coutesy not to rubbish a deal you are uninformed about and desist from raising meaningless uproar at the slightest given opportunity to wail.
In the spirit of sunnah, buhari prefers to do business with fellow Muslims than Kafirs save when it is absolutely unavoidable.

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Re: Buhari's Questionable Deal With Qatar - Olusegun Adeniyi by dammytosh: 7:20am On Mar 04, 2016

for a Nigerian to get a Qatari visa, he ought to have a sponsor who is resident in Qatar; that is the new policy for those countries that are not listed among the nations that its citizens are allowed to visit the country (Qatar).”


They said you need a sponsor to get a visa.

So how is that a problem for you Mr. Adeniyi.

Or you just want to write for writing sake ?

It is still the same group of drug dealers, prostitutees and criminals who caused this that will be the first to criticize.

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