Oil rich Gulf State, Qatar has invited Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities in the country and migrate for mouth-watering jobs.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in Nigeria, Mr. Ahmad Al-Horr, made the appeal during his recent visit to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, in Abuja.
Mr. Al-Horr said that several opportunities in all fields including oil and gas are open ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup slated to begin in the Middle East nation between November 20 and December 18.
Al-Horr said his government is exploring means to collaborate with the federal government of Nigerian on migration issues to expand the limited number of Nigerians in his country, especially for engineers, doctors and other professionals.
He said: “We are processing the bilateral agreement between the Government of Nigeria and the Government of Qatar on the regulation of employment of Nigerian migrant workers in the State of Qatar.
“We need a relationship with the labour ministry because the number of Nigerian workers in Qatar is limited. We want more Nigerian workers in our country.”
He added that Qatar was ready to host the premier soccer tournament, the first in the Arab world.
In his remark, Ngige said the ministry was looking forward to the formalisation of the bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Qatar on labour migration.
He said the large number of unemployed people in Africa falls between the ages of 17 and 35 who constitute 60 per cent of the population.
The minister noted that the youth constitute about 60 percent of the population with an unemployment ratio of about 34 per cent.
Ngige said: “If you include underemployment, you will be talking about close to 40 percent, which is also very alarming.
“That is why we are looking forward as a country towards formalising labour migration agreement with you.
“Your country has been identified as one of the destinations for people who are looking for work.
“You have even reiterated here that the Nigerian component of foreign workers in your place is limited.”