NIGERIA, QATAR SIGN AGREEMENTS ON BILATERAL AIR
SERVICE, AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION

Nigeria and the State of Qatar on Sunday in Doha signed
Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to pave way for
direct flights between major cities of both countries.
Both countries also signed an agreement to avoid double
taxation and tax evasion on the sideline of President
Muhammadu Buhari's state visit to Qatar.
The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika,
representing President Muhammadu Buhari, signed the air
services agreement on behalf of the country while Qatar’s
Minister of Transportation and Communications, Jassim Bin Saif Alsulaiti, signed on behalf the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh
Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani.
The agreement which was signed in the presence of both
leaders is expected to pave way for more direct flights
between major cities of both countries on the principle of
reciprocity by the designated airlines on behalf of the
country.
Sirika said after the signing of the agreement that the
accord would promote trade, commerce, tourism and travel
between both countries.
"Qatar is the richest country in the world at the moment in
terms of per capita income, their economy is strong and
their national carrier, Qatar airlines, is one of the most
viable and most focused in the industry.
"They (Qatar airlines) presently fly to Nigeria but they want
to fly to more cities and with the focus of the present
administration in Nigeria on establishing a national carrier,
we have commenced discussions on how we can partner
with countries like Qatar in our quest to establish a national
carrier".
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who signed the
agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the
prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes income
with her Qatari counterpart, Ali Shareef Al Emadi, expressed
delight that the agreement which was negotiated since
February 2015 has been finalised.
"What is symbolic in this agreement is that the Qataris who
are already investing heavily in Nigeria will bring in more
investments because the earlier lack of an agreement to
avoid double taxation was a stumbling block to some of the
investors.
"I am very confident that the signing of this agreement will
bring much more investment and business between Qatar
and Nigeria," she told reporters after signing the agreement.
In his remarks to journalists, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr Geofrey Onyeama, said President Buhari and Sheikh Al-
Thani had fruitful discussions on security, oil price stability,
and the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
"The Qatari leader acknowledged that President Buhari has
really created an enabling environment for businesses to
thrive in the country.
"The Emir made the point on the war against corruption in
Nigeria and the progress President Buhari is making in that
front and they are of the opinion that if that problem is
addressed with focused polices, the country will progress.
"The Emir also made it clear that the Qatari’s are ready to
invest in Nigeria in a big way", he said.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity)
February 28, 2016

sign of good tinz.....




FTC sha