Nigeria's 1,411 COP28 delegation list causes stir amid economic hardship
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has joined the international community in Dubai, UAE for the COP28 conference and is expected to deliver a national statement on his country’s efforts and stance on climate change issues, renewable energy and other environmental matters.
However, back home in Nigeria, the focus has shifted from the significance of COP28 and the president’s attendance to his entourage and other delegates who made the list of attendees from the country.
Out of all participating nations, Nigeria presented 1,411 delegates to the event - the third highest number globally, a tie with China and the largest from Africa.
Nigerians have criticized not only the number of delegates presented by the government, but also the credibility of some of the attendees and their affiliations, and relevance to the course. Many others are concerned about the government’s flamboyant expenditure on international travel and sponsorship amid the current economic crisis.
A few controversial names that appeared on the list presented by Nigeria and published by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), included Lebanese-Nigerian businessman, Gilbert Chagoury named as a confidante of the president. Another is TV host and actress Toke Makinwa, whose inclusion has caused a stir.
Amidst the backlash, the Senior Special Aide to the president, Temitope Ajayi has sought to respond to some claims by citizens on social media in an article titled, “Nigeria at COP28: Separating the facts from fiction.”
“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 NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, NDDC,” he wrote.
He added, “Many youth organisations from Nigeria especially from the Northern and Niger-Delta regions whose lives and livelihoods are most impacted by desert encroachment and hydrocarbon activities are also represented. 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,” he wrote.
Ajayi did not, however, clarify the number of delegates being sponsored by the government and those who are privately sponsored.
The provisional delegates list published by UNFCCC indicates that about 81,000 delegates have registered to attend the summit. UAE tops with 4,409 delegates with Brazil following with 3,081.
The Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP), under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), annually assembles member countries to establish ambitions, responsibilities, and evaluate climate measures.
