The federal government have denied rumours flying around social media that it sponsored 1,411 delegates to United Nations Climate Change Conference better known as the Convention of Parties or COP-28 Summit going on in Dubai, United Arab Emirate.
The Convention of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the world’s pre-eminent Climate Change Conference, attended this year (COP-28) by more than 70,000 participants and delegates from over 100 countries. Nigeria’s representation is very much in line with our status as Africa’s leading Sovereign voice and player in climate action.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris in a statement released in Abuja on Monday stated that parties to the Convention from Nigeria include government officials, representatives from the private sector, civil society, the voluntary sector, state governments, media, multilateral institutions, representatives of marginalised communities, and many others.
According to Idris, the federal government-funded delegation is made up of a total of 422 persons, which includes delegates from the National Council on Climate Change (32 persons), the Federal Ministry of Environment (34 persons), all ministries (167 persons), the Presidency (67 persons), the Office of the Vice President (9 persons), the National Assembly (40 persons), and federal parastatals and agencies (73 persons).
“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.” Idris stated
Chronicle NG reported the uproar that followed the release of Nigeria’s delegation’s list to the COP-28 in Dubai with many Nigerians questions the roles of some personalities whose name were identified on the list
