Tinubu tackling insecurity, First Lady tells Qatari envoy

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The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, says President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies are intensifying efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.

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This is as the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nigeria, Yousef Bin Hassan Al-Hail, has revealed that his initial fears about coming to the country—fueled by negative narratives on social media—were completely dispelled upon his arrival.

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They both said this when the First Lady on Tuesday received the ambassador, and the embassy’s Consul, Mr Khalifa Al-Khalifa, during a courtesy visit.

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Mrs Tinubu said Nigeria’s relationship with Qatar should be further strengthened for mutual benefit.

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She identified terrorism and kidnapping as the country’s major security challenges, assuring the ambassador that the President and security agencies were working tirelessly to address them.

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She described Nigeria as a vast country with peaceful, friendly and patriotic people.

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“We know as Nigerians that we have a great country. One of the things we want our young people to do is to visit other states in Nigeria. It is a very beautiful country.

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“Talking about evil, evil does not have a face. It comes in different forms, and what we are experiencing in Nigeria is terrorism and kidnapping.

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“However, the President is doing everything possible, alongside members of the armed forces, to tackle these challenges.

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“We are hopeful. We believe Nigeria will be great in our time and will take its rightful place among the comity of nations,” she said.

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The First Lady also urged young Nigerians to take advantage of the country’s rich natural and cultural endowments by exploring opportunities in tourism to create jobs.

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“I am delighted to be in this position because it allows me to travel across the country, meet our people, appreciate their cultures and see what Nigeria has to offer.

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“We have not fully explored the potential of our young people. While we focus on oil, lithium and gas, Nigeria’s greatest treasure lies in tourism.

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“We have a rich culture, excellent cuisine and many attractions that can provide employment opportunities for young people.

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“We have our challenges, but if we encourage our young people to discover the true wealth of this nation, it will be of great benefit to the country,” she said.

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Earlier, Al-Hail commended Nigeria and called for stronger bilateral cooperation between Qatar and Nigeria, particularly in the aviation and tourism sectors.

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He also urged Nigerians to shun cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation on social media, saying such practices portray the country negatively.

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“Nigeria is a diverse country with different peoples, cultures and languages. As one of the world’s leading oil producers, it occupies an important economic position in Africa.

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“Nigeria also has the largest population on the continent, making it a key player in Africa’s economic and political landscape.

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“We look forward to strengthening economic ties, addressing common challenges and building a robust partnership for development and stability.

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“Before I came, I was afraid of Nigeria because of what I saw on social media, but my experience has been completely different.

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“Nigeria has good weather, wonderful people and beautiful nature. It feels like home.

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“We should increase the number of flights to Abuja and Lagos to three or four times a week,” he said.

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