The presidency has announced plans to reduce the budget for the forthcoming 29th edition of the conference of parties (COP29).
The climate change conference will hold in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22.
At the last edition in 2023, Nigeria had 1,411 delegates at the COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), making it the country with the highest number of participants from the continent of Africa alongside China.
The enlarged list of delegates at COP28 incited public outcry, with many people questioning Nigeria’s representatives’ effectiveness at the conference.
However, whilst speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday, Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, made it known that the presidency has decided to cut down the budget for COP29 by N10 billion.
Ngelale said President Bola Tinubu, in response to the public outcry amid the size and cost of Nigeria’s delegation to COP28, called for a comprehensive audit of the nation’s participation.
The presidential spokesperson stated that the audit uncovered unnecessary spending and attendees who “had no business” at the conference.
“Many Nigerians would recall that as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s delegation went to COP28 in Dubai, UAE, last year, there were some elements of outcry concerning the size of the delegation,” Ngelale said.
“There was some deliberate misinformation. But the truth of the matter is, we also found that there were government officials who had no business at that meeting, and some with significant delegations.”
Ngelale added that the budget reduction is a reflection of the government’s commitment to efficient resource management while enhancing climate action initiatives.
He further said that the federal government has implemented various cost-cutting measures for COP29, which includes the introduction of a climate accountability and transparency portal, the eradication of the showcase pavilion, and a reduction in consultancy as well as subcontracting fees.
“Elimination of showcase pavilion—the government will not purchase a showcase pavilion, which cost nearly $500,000 at COP28. Instead, they will utilize a delegate office within the conference complex, expected to cost less than 10 percent of the pavilion price,” Ngelale said.
“Reduction in consultancy and subcontracting fees—services such as lighting and technology provision will be handled directly by the secretariat of the National Council on Climate Change, eliminating costly third-party contracts.
“As well as our active cutdown of expenditure items that were found in the COP 28 expenditure profile.
“We have put ourselves in a position to save this country over N10 billion on this 11-day event in November.
“So, the president will continue to ensure that Nigerians have confidence in all of our activities moving forward.
“We have conducted a comprehensive audit of where we have gone wrong in the past with a view to resolving them. COP 29 is just the beginning.”