The Federal Government has thrown more on the allegation that it sponsored 1,411 delegates to the ongoing climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to the government it has only sponsored and funded 422 delegates to the ongoing climate summit.
There have been criticisms over the 1,411 delegates Nigeria allegedly sent to the event at a time the government is advising Nigerians to cut cost as well as dwindling economic fortunes.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris in his official response to the criticisms, on Monday, pointed out that “The overall Nigerian delegation to COP-28 comprised of Government-sponsored (Federal and State Governments) and non-government-sponsored participants (from Private Companies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, media, academia, etc).”
A breakdown of the government-funded delegates contained in a statement signed by the minister himself indicates, “32 delegates were from the National Council on Climate Change; 34 from the Federal Ministry of Environment; 167 delegates from All Ministries; 67 from presidency; nine from the office of the Vice President; 40 from the National Assembly; and 73 from the Federal parastatals/agencies.”
He stated that President Bola Tinubu and other officials were in Dubai for ‘serious business’ and not for jamboree.
“President Tinubu has been unequivocal in his position that Africa, which is battling problems of poverty and security and struggling to provide education and healthcare to her people, cannot be told to abandon its primary source of income, which is mostly from extractive industries, without the West providing the funding and investment in alternative and clean energy sources,” he stated..
“Since assuming office, President Tinubu has been a vocal champion for the African continent on the global stage, whether at the United Nations General Assembly, the G-20, or the ongoing COP-28. The President has been supported by an equally active and engaged Nigerian delegation at these various fora.
“It is therefore, essential to keep setting the records straight while assuring Nigerians that President Tinubu and other officials on the Federal Government delegation are in Dubai for serious business, not a jamboree.”
The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference is the 28th edition and is holding from November 30, 2023 to December 12, 2023 at Expo City.