After backlashes on the wasteful spending by the Tinubu government, a statement on Sunday by the President Tinubu’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, claimed that only few of those registered were sponsored by the Federal Government.
he Bola Tinubu presidency has given clarifications on about the 1,411 Nigerian delegates who registered to attend the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
After backlashes on the wasteful spending by the Tinubu government, a statement on Sunday by the President Tinubu’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, claimed that only few of those registered were sponsored by the Federal Government.
According to Ajayi, most of the contingents comprised private sector players, such as business people, civil society organisations and delegates from Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region, whom he said were in the summit to promote their agendas.
According to the statement, “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,”
It added, “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 is registered against their countries of origin.
“This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must be said also 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.”
Ajayi explained that stakeholders from Nigeria beyond the government were involved in the climate conference because of its significance.
He cited some of the stakeholders to include, UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu; Chairman of BUA group, AbdulSamad 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.
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.