Editor
President Bola Tinubu has instructed the establishment of a novel portal aimed at diminishing the number of government-sponsored delegates attending the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference COP29 in Azerbaijan, slated for November 11 to 22.
The declaration was proclaimed on Tuesday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, during a briefing at the State House.
Ngelale elucidated that the recently introduced platform, named the Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal, is anticipated to conserve over ₦10 billion for Nigeria throughout the 11-day conference. The portal will ensure that solely delegates directly engaged in climate-related activities are sponsored by the government.
This initiative is a direct response to public censure regarding the excessive number of delegates dispatched to the prior climate conference in Dubai, many of whom held no substantial role in the proceedings, Ngelale disclosed.
The portal will be formulated in collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), overseen by Director-General Nkiruka Maduekwe. It will function as a transparent platform, enumerating all government-sponsored attendees from various ministries, departments, agencies, and the legislative branch.
The Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal will grant Nigerians complete, real-time access to the roster of government-sponsored delegates attending COP 29. This guarantees that each delegate possesses a valid economic rationale to participate in the conference, interacting with corporations, multilateral partners, and stakeholders to draw financial resources and opportunities into the nation for the welfare of our populace, Ngelale affirmed.
He additionally underscored that the platform signifies a notable stride towards reinstating public trust in the government’s climate-related endeavors, underscoring that COP 29 marks merely the inception of a broader endeavor to scrutinize and rectify previous inefficiencies.
We are positioned to conserve over ₦10 billion during this 11-day affair in November. The President remains unwavering in his commitment to instilling trust among Nigerians in the government’s actions as we progress. COP 29 is merely the commencement, Ngelale concluded.
