The Nigerian Government has expressed condolences to the State of Qatar following the death of the country’s former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who died on Sunday at the age of 74.
Qatar announced the passing of the former ruler in a statement issued by the Emir’s office, describing him as a transformative leader whose legacy reshaped the Gulf nation.
“With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, the Bureau of the Emir mourns the great loss to the nation of the late — may God have mercy on him — His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,” the statement read.
Qatari authorities said funeral prayers would be held on Sunday evening, while a period of national mourning had been declared.
Sheikh Hamad served as Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013 after assuming power in a bloodless palace coup while his father was abroad.
During his 18-year reign, he spearheaded Qatar’s rapid economic transformation, leveraging the country’s vast natural gas reserves to establish it as one of the world’s leading exporters of liquefied natural gas and among the wealthiest nations by GDP per capita.
He also oversaw Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after the country secured the hosting rights in 2010.
In June 2013, Sheikh Hamad voluntarily abdicated the throne in favour of his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in what was widely regarded as a rare peaceful transfer of power in the modern Arab world.
Reacting to the development, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the late former emir as a visionary leader whose contributions to Qatar’s development would be remembered for generations.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the minister said Sheikh Hamad’s leadership left an enduring legacy in Qatar and the wider Gulf region.
“His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who served as Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013, was a distinguished and visionary leader whose transformative contributions to the development and modernization of Qatar have left an indelible mark on the nation and the wider region,” the statement said.
The minister added that the late ruler’s wisdom, commitment to progress and dedication to international cooperation would be fondly remembered by the people of Qatar and the international community.
Nigeria also extended its condolences to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Al Thani family and the people of Qatar, while praying for strength and comfort for the country during the period of mourning.
