- As presidency insists not all delegates were sponsored
Although knocks have been trailing the Federal Government’s large delegation to COP 28 and alleged waste of resources, the Presidency insists that contrary to social media claims, it did not sponsor all Nigerian delegates at the ongoing 28th Convention of Parties on Climate Summit (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Guardian expressed concern that for a nation groaning under huge debt burden, inflation, rising poverty, reactions continued to trail Nigeria’s large delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), yesterday, as some Nigerians, including the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, urged President Bola Tinubu to make Nigeria great by competing with China in production; not in the size of contingents to events.
No fewer than 1,411 Nigerian delegates registered to participate at the 28th Climate Change Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. That is, the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Obi, in a series of tweets on his X handle, said: “In a twist of sad irony, let me congratulate the giant of Africa, Nigeria, for matching the great China, with the same number of contingents at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nigeria’s contingent to COP28 totaled 1,411, the same number as the Chinese contingents.”
“While China’s budget for 2024 is about $4 trillion, about $2,860 per head; Nigeria’s budget is about $33 billion, about $165 per head. China has a high Human Development Index (HDI), with a ranking of 79 out of 191 countries measured, and Nigeria has a low HDI, with a ranking of 163 out of 191 countries measured. Nigeria has more people living in ‘multi-dimensional’ poverty than China, despite China having seven times our population.
“Most importantly, the vast majority of those in the Nigerian delegation to COP28 are either non-relevant civil servants or relations, friends and hangers-on of high government officials. Most of them hardly understand or have anything to do with climate change.”
He added: “This huge contingent is out at public expense at a time when most Nigerians can hardly afford food and basic needs as a result of economic hardship. I pray earnestly that a day will come soon enough when we can focus on competing with China on productivity and the miracle of migrating the highest number of its citizens out of poverty over a relatively short time.
“As we have kept emphasising, we must stop waste as a tradition of our government and nation. We urgently need to cut the cost of governance and invest in production. We need to de-emphasise unnecessary ceremony and showmanship as a mode of government behaviour. We need to tie spending to necessity and national priority. A new Nigeria is possible. We only need to do the reasonable and the necessary.”
On its part, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said: “It’s a big shame that Nigeria is attending the international event around the strategic issues of consequences of climate change with such a massive team, thus increasing the impact of fossil fuel on the environment.”
National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, told The Guardian: “Tinubu’s government continues to show that it cannot curb wasteful spending. Of the 1,411 delegates, 590 were sponsored to attend the conference by the Nigerian government, which is currently battling with record inflation, an out-of-control exchange rate, a ballooning debt profile, and millions of its citizens sliding into poverty. The total to-and-fro flight ticket for the 590 delegates is thought to be N885 million, as estimated by a reputable expert.
“This is a big shame! This is an unmitigated scam and it deserves to be absolutely condemned. Nigeria’s official delegation shouldn’t be more than 10, since Nigeria runs an embassy in the UAE or nearby.”
THE Presidency, however, explained that the 1,411 delegates at COP28 in Dubai are not all government-funded, and include sundry groups such as business persons, civil society actors, among others who have different roles to play at the conference.
However, Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity, Temitope Ajayi in an article written on Sunday also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu and other senior officials of his administration were at the global event for serious business, not mere jamboree.
Over 97,000 people from more than 100 countries across the world are participating at the summit.
Data from the organisers showed that 1,411 Nigerians registered to participate in the event.
But in his piece, Ajayi said: “In Nigeria like so many other countries, interested parties comprising government officials from both the federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists, and journalists are present in Dubai.
“Also participating are agencies of government such as the NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, and NDDC. Many youth organisations from Nigeria especially from the Northern and Niger Delta regions whose lives and livelihoods are most impacted by desert encroachment and hydrocarbon activities are also represented.
“The President of Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, leads a pan-Ijaw delegation of more than 15 people who registered as parties from Nigeria. Among delegates from Nigeria are also over 20 journalists from various media houses.
“Their participation is very important. It is not for jamboree as it is being mischievously represented on social media. It is important to state here that delegates from all countries whether from government, private sector, media, and civil society groups attend COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of attendees is registered against their countries of origin.
“This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must be said also that the fact that people registered to attend a conference does not mean everyone that registered is physically present.”
He added that Tinubu had also taken the opportunity to broker deals and attract new commitments.
In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP stated that “this incident is a further validation that the Tinubu-led APC administration is wasteful, frivolous and reckless in the application of the scarce resources of the nation, especially at a time Nigerians are yearning for prudent management of resources to achieve the desired infrastructural regeneration, job creation and revamping of the economy”.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and two other African countries will pilot the first phase of a new partnership between United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) that supports governments, donors, and other stakeholders to accelerate energy transition in Africa.
The Africa Energy Transition Partnership (AETP) finds a sustainable way to meet its growing energy needs, which is one of the core development challenges for the continent. AETP will have a pan-continental view; however, as an initial step lasts until 2028, while other African countries are identified to be incorporated as the programme rolls out.
The agreement announced at a COP28 side event in Dubai will deliver joint action and improved coordination, by addressing issues that impede access to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructures. UNOPS will be responsible for managing the funds and providing operational and administrative support, while SEforALL will provide access to finance and technical assistance.
President Bola Tinubu (left); Chinese Special Envoy on Climate, Xei Zhen Hue; President, United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and former United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai…yesterday.
It builds on lessons learned from the ongoing Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership, which since 2020 supports Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines to accelerate transition towards a sustainable energy system.
Over 40 per cent of the population in Africa lives without access to electricity, and 70 per cent without access to clean cooking fuels. Africa enjoys immense energy potential, particularly in renewable energy, yet only a fraction of this is currently being used. Against this context, the partnership represents a unique opportunity to support the region’s energy development and climate goals.
Mobilising technical and financial resources in energy projects remains a key challenge. The partnership will bring funders together with African governments, and other stakeholders to develop a shared vision to ensure the right energy mix for the continent.
UNOPS Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, said: “Access to reliable and clean energy is key to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Africa’s rapid economic expansion calls for sustainable solutions to meet growing energy needs, and this is one of the core development challenges for the continent. UNOPS is committed to supporting Africa in its efforts to provide access to energy for all, and to ensure that the clean energy transition delivers for Africa’s economic and social development.”
Chief Executive Officer and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for SEforALL, Damilola Ogunbiyi, said: “The energy transition in Africa presents an unparalleled opportunity to address climate change and promote sustainable development. It is extremely vital that we think of how people access and consume energy, especially in regions where energy infrastructure does not adequately meet demand.
“This is why at Sustainable Energy for All we work with African governments to develop whole-of-economy energy transition and investment plans that help build energy systems to support economic and social development and achieve net-zero emissions. We are excited to be deepening our relationship with UNOPS through this new partnership to deliver support to implement these energy transition and investment plans.”
Also, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has joined a global Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter (OGDC) dedicated to speeding up climate action and achieving high-scale impact across the oil and gas sectors.
To date, 50 companies, representing more than 40 per cent of global oil production have signed on to the OGDC, with National Oil Companies (NOCs) representing over 60 per cent of signatories – the largest-ever number of NOCs to commit to a decarbonisation initiative.
Signatories have committed to net-zero operations by 2050 at the latest, and ending routine flaring by 2030, and near-zero upstream methane emissions. They agree to continue to work towards industry best practices in emission reductions and a number of key actions: investing in the energy system of the future including renewables, low-carbon fuels, and negative emissions technologies.
The group would also be increasing transparency, including enhancing measurement, monitoring, reporting and independent verification of greenhouse gas emissions and their performance and progress in reducing emissions.
They will be increasing alignment with broader industry best practices to accelerate decarbonisation of operations and aspire to implement current best practices by 2030, to collectively reduce emission intensity, reduce energy poverty and provide secure and affordable energy to support the development of all economies.
The OGDC recognises that climate change is “a collective challenge that requires strong and focused action from producers and consumers of energy, fundamental changes across society and the energy sector, as well as international collaboration, to advance energy transition and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas”.
Beyond decarbonisation, signatories recognise it is essential for the oil and gas industry to increase actions, including engaging with customers, investing in the energy system of the future, and increasing transparency in measurement, reporting and independent verification.
