The State House, representing the Presidency, reportedly received a sum of N69.22 million for presidential trips related to the COP28 Climate Summit held in Dubai, UAE, in December 2023, according to data from GovSpend, a platform by BudgIT.
The COP28, or the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, took place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, at Expo City, Dubai. President Bola Tinubu led the Nigerian delegation, departing on November 29 and returning on December 5, 2023.
Despite President Tinubu’s presence at the summit, GovSpend data revealed seven distinct payments made on December 7, 2024, for the same purpose of covering presidential trips and related expenses, fueling controversy over the perceived bloated entourage and delegates from Nigeria.
In addition, the 2024 approved budget allocates approximately N50 million for the upcoming COP29, scheduled for November 11-24 in Baku, Azerbaijan. This allocation is attributed to the National Council On Climate Change, an agency under the State House. The amount is marginally lower than the expenses incurred during COP28, suggesting a potential adjustment in response to public backlash.
The COP28 summit in Dubai drew attention due to the controversy surrounding the large Nigerian delegation, reportedly comprising 1,411 individuals. President Tinubu faced criticism for the substantial number of delegates, with the government insisting that only 422 were sponsored by public funds. The delegation included business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists, and journalists, as per the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Temitope Ajayi.
While the government claimed over $5 billion in commitments for climate action efforts from its participation in COP28, the upcoming COP29 raises concerns about balancing international representation with fiscal responsibility. As Nigeria navigates economic challenges, prudent spending in the face of global engagements becomes crucial, especially amid recent cuts in official travel expenditures. The government faces the task of justifying expenses related to these international summits amidst pressing national needs.
