ASHENEWS reports that the federal government says that it only sponsored 422 participants to attend the ongoing Climate Summit in Dubai, also known as COP28.
The Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris stated this in a statement issued on Monday.
Giving a breakdown of this figure, the minister said “The Federal Government-funded delegation is made up of a total of 422 persons, as follows:
1. National Council on Climate Change = 32
2. Federal Ministry of Environment = 34
3. All Ministries = 167
4. Presidency = 67
5. Office of the Vice President = 9
6. National Assembly = 40
7. Federal Parastatals/Agencies = 73.”
The minister went further to defend the federal government’s position, stating that “As the biggest economy and most populous country in Africa, with a substantial extractive economy and extensive vulnerability to climate change, Nigeria has a significant stake in climate action, and our active and robust participation at COP is therefore not unwarranted.
He maintained that COP-28 presents an array of investment and partnership opportunities for the various sectors affected by climate change, and Nigeria is already benefiting from its ongoing participation.
“It should be highlighted that, over the years, Nigeria has firmly demonstrated its climate action credentials by being the first African country to launch its Energy Transition Plan, the first African country to issue a Sovereign Green Bond and one of the first to pass national climate change legislation.
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.
“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 (UNGA), the G20, 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.”
