‘We want more workers’ — Qatar woos Nigerians

The government of Qatar has expressed its willingness to have more Nigerians in the country’s labour force.

Ahmad AL-Horr, chargé d’Affaires of the embassy of Qatar in Nigeria, made this known when he visited Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, on Friday, in Abuja.

According to AL-Horr, Qatar needs the collaboration with the Nigerian government on migration of workers.

“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,” he said.

“We need the relationship with the labour ministry because the number of Nigerian workers in Qatar is limited. We want more Nigerian workers in our country.”

Responding, Ngige said his ministry is looking forward to formalising the bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Qatar on labour migration.

Ngige decried the rate of unemployment in Africa, describing it as “alarming”.

According to him, in Nigeria, the youth constitute about 60 percent of the population, with an unemployment ratio of about 34 percent.

“If you include underemployment, you will be talking about close to 40 percent, which is also very alarming,” he said.

“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.”

Ngige said his ministry would work to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari signs the agreements during his planned state visit to Qatar.