The Nigerian Federal Government has announced a significant reduction in its budget for the upcoming 29th Conference of Parties (COP29), scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22. This decision comes in response to widespread criticism of Nigeria’s participation in the previous COP28 held in Dubai.
Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, disclosed on Tuesday that the presidency has decided to cut the COP29 budget by ₦10 billion. This move follows concerns raised about the size and cost of Nigeria’s delegation to COP28.
“At COP28, Nigeria had the largest delegation from Africa, along with China. However, the extensive size of our delegation and the associated costs drew significant public criticism,” Ngelale explained during a briefing in Abuja.
“In response, President Tinubu ordered a comprehensive audit of our participation at COP28, which uncovered unnecessary spending and some officials who had no business attending the conference.”
Last year, Nigeria’s delegation to COP28 in Dubai numbered 1,411, the highest among African countries. The large number of delegates raised questions about the effectiveness and cost of Nigeria’s representation at the conference.
Public and media scrutiny intensified over the expenditures associated with such a vast delegation, including allegations of inefficient use of resources.
The audit conducted by the presidency found several areas of wasteful spending and highlighted the presence of delegates whose roles were deemed unnecessary. This led to President Tinubu’s decision to streamline the delegation and cut costs for the upcoming conference.
Cost-Cutting Measures
To address the issues identified in the audit and to ensure more efficient use of resources, the Federal Government has introduced several cost-cutting measures for COP29:
- Elimination of Showcase Pavilion: Unlike COP28, where Nigeria spent nearly $500,000 on a showcase pavilion, the government will forgo this expense. Instead, a delegate office will be utilized within the conference complex, costing less than 10% of the pavilion’s price.
- Reduction in Consultancy and Subcontracting Fees: The government will handle services such as lighting and technology provision directly through the National Council on Climate Change, eliminating costly third-party contracts. This aims to reduce expenditures on consultancy and subcontracting that were significant in the previous conference.
- General Expenditure Cuts: The government has reviewed and reduced several other expenditure items based on the COP28 spending profile. This comprehensive approach is expected to save Nigeria over ₦10 billion during the 11-day event.
Ngelale emphasised that these measures reflect the government’s commitment to responsible financial management and enhancing the effectiveness of Nigeria’s participation in global climate action initiatives.
“We have put ourselves in a position to save this country over ₦10 billion on this 11-day event in November,” Ngelale said. “President Tinubu is committed to ensuring that Nigerians have confidence in all of our activities moving forward. COP29 is just the beginning of our efforts to correct past mistakes and improve our approach to international engagements.”
COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan this year, is a critical global climate conference where world leaders, policymakers, and environmental experts gather to discuss and negotiate actions to combat climate change. Nigeria’s participation in such conferences is crucial due to the country’s significant role in climate action and its vulnerability to climate impacts.
In past conferences, Nigeria faced challenges related to delegation size and costs, with critics arguing that resources could be better utilized. The decision to cut the COP29 budget and streamline expenses reflects a response to these criticisms and an effort to improve the effectiveness of Nigeria’s contributions to global climate discussions.
The public has generally welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to cut costs and streamline delegation size. This move is seen as a step towards better financial management and accountability, especially in light of previous concerns about wastefulness.
