‘Some officials have no business there’ — FG to cut COP29 budget by N10bn

The presidency has announced plans to cut down the budget for the upcoming 29th edition of the conference of parties (COP29).

The climate change meeting will be hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22.

Last year, Nigeria had 1,411 delegates at the COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), making it the country with the highest number of participants from Africa alongside China.

The long list of delegates at COP28 sparked public outcry, with many questioning Nigeria’s representatives’ effectiveness at the event.

Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday, Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said the presidency has decided to cut down the budget for COP29 by N10 billion.

He said President Bola Tinubu, in response to the public outcry over the size and cost of Nigeria’s delegation to COP28, ordered a comprehensive audit of the country’s participation.

He said the audit revealed unnecessary spending and attendees who “had no business” at the conference.

“Many Nigerians would recall that as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s delegation went to COP28 in Dubai, UAE, last year, there were some elements of outcry concerning the size of the delegation,” Ngelale said.

“There was some deliberate misinformation. But the truth of the matter is, we also found that there were government officials who had no business at that meeting, and some with significant delegations.”

The presidential spokesperson said the budget reduction reflects the government’s commitment to efficient resource management while enhancing climate action initiatives.

He added that the federal government has implemented several cost-cutting measures for COP29, including the introduction of a climate accountability and transparency portal, the elimination of the showcase pavilion, and a reduction in consultancy and subcontracting fees.

“Elimination of showcase pavilion—the government will not purchase a showcase pavilion, which cost nearly $500,000 at COP28. Instead, they will utilize a delegate office within the conference complex, expected to cost less than 10 percent of the pavilion price,” Ngelale said.

“Reduction in consultancy and subcontracting fees—services such as lighting and technology provision will be handled directly by the secretariat of the National Council on Climate Change, eliminating costly third-party contracts.

“As well as our active cutdown of expenditure items that were found in the COP 28 expenditure profile.

“We have put ourselves in a position to save this country over N10 billion on this 11-day event in November.

“So, the president will continue to ensure that Nigerians have confidence in all of our activities moving forward.

“We have conducted a comprehensive audit of where we have gone wrong in the past with a view to resolving them. COP 29 is just the beginning.”