Nigeria's representation at the ongoing twenty-eighth Conference of Parties (COP28) has witnessed a staggering surge, with the number of government-funded delegates skyrocketing by over 250% compared to the previous year. Premium Times' analysis reveals that the official delegation, led by President Bola Tinubu, has swelled from 120 at COP27 to a whopping 590 individuals this year.
This drastic increase has sparked public outrage in Nigeria, considering the recent removal of petroleum product subsidies and calls for citizens to endure economic challenges. President Tinubu, who has emphasized the government's financial constraints, faces criticism for the controversial expenditure associated with this enlarged COP28 delegation.
Despite government claims of funding only 422 out of the 590-person delegation, this still marks a significant increase, more than triple the official government delegations in the past two years. The comparison with global counterparts is also eye-catching, as Nigeria's funded delegates outnumber those of the UK and the US combined.
United Nations officials have voiced concerns about the ballooning attendance at COP28, with over 100,000 participants from 195 countries, doubling the numbers from COP27. Acknowledging the issue, Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme, cautioned against such over-bloated attendance becoming a model for future conferences.
Amidst the crowd, Nigeria's COP28 priorities focus on securing investments to fulfill its Energy Transition Plan. The country anticipates spending $1.9 trillion between 2022 and 2060 to meet ETP targets, with core Nigerian delegates actively seeking to attract vital investments during the summit.
As debates continue over the controversial surge in Nigeria's COP28 delegation, questions linger about the allocation of 'party badges' and the impact on the nation's stance in crucial climate negotiations
Source: Premium Times
