By Marcus Ikechukwu
Yakubu Ahmed, Nigerian ambassador to Qatar, has revealed that 7,000 Nigerians are currently residing in Qatar, earning a living in various fields ranging from healthcare, safety, oil and gas, aviation, and construction, among other sectors.
Ahmed gave the information while playing host to President Muhammadu Buhari at a town hall meeting as part of his visit to Qatar.
Even though some Nigerians back home are protesting over what they described as a flawed electoral process in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, he commended Buhari for the success of the recent polls.
According to the Diplomat, the process has proven 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, Ahmed noted that Nigeria and the State of Qatar have maintained a good bilateral relationship since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2013.
“There are currently about 7,000 Nigerians residing in Qatar, and gainfully engaged in diverse areas of human endeavours,” he noted.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community in the country, Dr Arabo Ibrahim, a senior consultant obstetrician, and gynecologist noted that he had every reason to appreciate the President for restoring peace in the northeastern part of Nigeria.
“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,” he said.
Another community member, Professor Akintunde Akinade, also thanked President Buhari for conducting an electoral process that 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.