Amidst social media uproar regarding the number of Nigerian delegates attending the ongoing COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, the Presidency has responded, emphasizing that President Tinubu and the delegates are not in Dubai for a jamboree but for serious business.
The clarification was conveyed through a press statement issued by Temitope Ajayi, a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Ajayi elucidated that the summit, hosting over 97,000 delegates from more than 100 countries, encompasses representatives from government, private sector, civil society, media, and multilateral institutions.
The statement highlighted that the Nigerian delegation includes officials from both the Federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists, journalists, and agencies such as NNPC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, and NDDC.
Emphasizing the significance of the delegates’ participation, Ajayi countered claims of it being a jamboree, noting that countries like Brazil and China have delegate numbers exceeding a thousand.
In providing more insights, the SSA clarified that attendees from all countries, irrespective of sector, attend COP summits as parties. Registration against countries of origin doesn’t imply government sponsorship. Additionally, being registered doesn’t guarantee physical presence.
Pointing to Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest economy, Ajayi justified the higher number of Nigerian delegates. Noteworthy figures among them include Tony Elumelu, Chairman of UBA, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA group, and other philanthropic billionaires promoting sustainability.
The statement affirmed that the Federal Government did not fund the trip for these delegates. The COP28’s 97,000 attendees encompass world leaders and influential figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, King Charles of the UK, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. President Bola Tinubu, among others, contributes to the diverse global representation at the summit.
