First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has assured that President Bola Tinubu, alongside the nation’s security agencies, is intensifying efforts to address insecurity and restore lasting peace across Nigeria.
She gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nigeria, Yousef Bin Hassan Al-Hail, and the embassy’s Consul, Mr Khalifa Al-Khalifa, during a courtesy visit.
Mrs Tinubu described terrorism and kidnapping as the country’s most pressing security concerns but expressed confidence that the Federal Government and the armed forces were making significant efforts to tackle the threats.
She said Nigeria remains a peaceful nation blessed with hospitable and patriotic citizens despite its security challenges.
According to the First Lady, the government remains optimistic that the country will overcome its current difficulties and attain its full potential.
“We know as Nigerians that we have a great country. Evil has no face and comes in different forms. What we are experiencing today is terrorism and kidnapping, but the President and members of the armed forces are doing everything possible to address these challenges,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu also advocated stronger bilateral ties between Nigeria and Qatar, noting that closer cooperation would be beneficial to both countries.
She encouraged Nigerian youths to explore opportunities in the tourism sector, describing it as one of the nation’s most valuable but underutilised resources.
The First Lady said Nigeria’s diverse cultures, tourist attractions and cuisine have the capacity to create employment and drive economic growth if properly harnessed.
She added that travelling across the country had given her a deeper appreciation of Nigeria’s cultural richness and tourism potential.
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Earlier, the Qatari ambassador called for stronger economic and diplomatic relations between both countries, particularly in the aviation and tourism sectors.
Al-Hail also urged Nigerians to refrain from cyberbullying and spreading misinformation on social media, warning that such actions create a false impression of the country abroad.
The envoy disclosed that he had initially been apprehensive about taking up his diplomatic posting in Nigeria because of negative narratives circulating online.
However, he said his perception changed completely after arriving in the country.
“Before I came, I was afraid of Nigeria because of what I saw on social media, but my experience has been completely different. Nigeria has good weather, wonderful people and beautiful nature. It feels like home,” he said.
He described Nigeria as one of Africa’s most important economies, citing its large population and status as a leading oil producer, while expressing optimism about expanding cooperation between both nations.
The ambassador also proposed increasing the number of flights between Qatar and Nigeria, suggesting that services to Abuja and Lagos be expanded to three or four times weekly to strengthen business and tourism links.