President Bola Tinubu has introduced a new measure to prevent the Nigerian government’s delegation to the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Azerbaijan from becoming overly large.
To achieve this, the President has ordered the creation of a new portal designed to streamline the selection and number of government-sponsored delegates for the event.
This development was announced by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, during a briefing at the State House on Tuesday.
Ngelale revealed that the newly launched platform, named the Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal, is expected to save Nigeria over ₦10 billion during the 11-day conference.
“The portal will ensure that only delegates directly involved in climate-related activities are sponsored by the government,” Ngelale stated.
The platform will be developed in collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), led by Director-General Nkiruka Maduekwe.
It will function as a transparent system, listing all government-sponsored attendees from various ministries, departments, agencies, and the legislative branch.
“This initiative is in direct response to public criticism over the excessive number of delegates sent to the previous climate conference in Dubai, many of whom had no substantive role in the proceedings,” Ngelale explained.
He further highlighted the portal’s role in promoting transparency and accountability: “The Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal will provide Nigerians with full, real-time access to the list of government-sponsored delegates attending COP 29.
“This ensures that every delegate has a legitimate economic reason to be at the conference, engaging with companies, multilateral partners, and stakeholders to attract finance and opportunities into the country for the benefit of our people.”
Ngelale also emphasised that this platform marks a significant move towards restoring public confidence in the government’s climate-related activities, noting that COP 29 is the first step in a broader effort to audit and correct past inefficiencies.
“We are poised to save over ₦10 billion during this 11-day event in November. The President remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians trust the government’s actions as we move forward. COP 29 is just the start,” he concluded.
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