The Presidency has responded to social media scrutiny over the significant Nigerian delegation who registered to attend the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, stating that a substantial portion of the 1,411 delegates is not government-funded.
Gatekeepers News reports that Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi on Sunday, clarified that private sector players, including business leaders, Civil Society Organisations, and Niger Delta representatives, form a bulk of the contingents.
Ajayi emphasizes that these individuals attend to promote their causes and not for government-sponsored jamboree.
“It is important to state here that delegates from all countries, whether from government, private sector, media and civil society groups, attend COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of attendees are registered against their countries of origin. This does not mean they are sponsored or funded by the government,”
While noting that the large contingent from Nigeria is not solely government-funded, Ajayi said, “It is important to state here that delegates from all countries whether from government, private sector, media and civil society groups attend COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of attendees are registered against their countries of origin.
“This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must also be said that the fact that people registered to attend a conference does not mean everyone who registered is physically present.
“As the biggest country in Africa, the biggest economy and one with a bigger stake in climate action as a country with a huge extractive economy, it is a no-brainer that delegates from Nigeria will be more than any other country in Africa.”
He pointed out that because of the significance of the climate conference, stakeholders from Nigeria beyond the government are also involved.
They include UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu; Chairman of BUA group, Abdul Samad Rabiu and other billionaires “whose businesses are promoting sustainability and climate actions through their philanthropies.”
“These businessmen and women and their staff who came with them to promote their own business interests are part of the 1,411 delegates from Nigeria. Their trip to Dubai is not funded by the Federal Government.
“United Nations Climate summit, by its very nature, commands attendance of big names from across the world – statesmen and women, politicians, lawmakers, corporate titans, journalists and activists, etc. who promote big global agenda. So, people attend the summit for many reasons,” the Presidency clarified.
Ajayi also explained that when the world comes together to take action to achieve a common goal and proffer collective solutions to a nagging global concern, there are parties involved from government, private sector, civil society, media and multilateral institutions.
He noted, “In Nigeria like so many other countries, interested parties comprising government officials from both the Federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists are present in Dubai.”
Also participating are agencies of government such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and its subsidiaries, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development Commission and many youth organisations from Nigeria, he explained.
“The President of Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, leads a pan-Ijaw delegation of more than 15 people who registered as parties from Nigeria.
“Among delegates from Nigeria are also over 20 journalists from various media houses.
“Their participation is very important. It is not for jamboree as it is being mischievously represented on social media,” he noted.
Defending Tinubu’s participation at the global summit, the aide said, “President Tinubu and other officials on the Federal Government delegation are in Dubai for serious business not jamboree.
“Our President has been very busy representing our country well. Since Thursday morning when he arrived Dubai, President Tinubu has spent not less than 18 hours daily in attending very important sessions, pushing our national agenda whilst holding bilateral and business meetings on the sidelines.”
The Presidency highlighted the logic behind Nigeria’s participation, stating, “Africa that is battling problems of poverty, security and struggling to provide education and healthcare to her people cannot be told to abandon its major source of income which is mostly from extractive industries without the West providing the funding and investment in alternative and clean energy sources.”
Nigeria emerges as the fourth country with the most nominated delegates, numbering 589, for COP28 in Dubai following China with 822 badges, Brazil with 3,081 and the host, UAE, who nominated 4,409.
A list of 198 parties (197 countries and the European Union) published by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change showed that the participants include a diverse representation of Ministers, Governors, agency heads, presidential aides, SDGs office officials, and members of the private sector.
President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and Indian business magnate Gilbert Chagoury who was designated as ‘Confidante of Mr President’ and Special Adviser to the President on the SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire are among the notable names.
The total participant count, including onsite and online attendees, stands at approximately 84,000. The figures outpace the previous COP27 and COP26 attendance, emphasizing the significance of the global climate conference.
