BREAKING: Tinubu orders creation of portal to limit delegates’ attendance at COP 29

By Kunle Sanni

President Bola Tinubu has directed the establishment of a new portal aimed at reducing the number of government-sponsored delegates attending the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Azerbaijan, scheduled for November 11 to 22.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, during a briefing at the State House.

Ngelale explained that the newly launched platform, called 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.

“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 said.

The portal will be developed in collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), headed by Director-General Nkiruka Maduekwe. It will serve as a transparent platform, listing all government-sponsored attendees from various ministries, departments, agencies, and the legislative branch.

“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 stated.

He further emphasized that the platform represents a significant step towards restoring public confidence in the government’s climate-related activities, highlighting that COP 29 is just the beginning of a broader effort to audit and rectify 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,” Ngelale concluded.