The Nigerian government has responded to the public conversations over the number of delegates it sent to the ongoing climate summit in Dubai, also known as COP 28, saying that it is in line with its role as a leading voice and player in climate action in Africa.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, clarified in a statement on Monday that the country’s representation at the summit is very much in line with its status as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, as well as its commitment to the climate agenda.
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Idris said that the parties to the convention from Nigeria include government officials, representatives from the private sector, civil society, the voluntary sector, state governments, media, multilateral institutions, representatives of marginalised communities, and many others.
The Minister added that the federal government- funded delegation is made up of a total of 422 persons, which is less than 1% of the total attendance at the summit.
According to him, the delegation is composed of experts and stakeholders from various sectors and regions, who are expected to contribute to the negotiations and deliberations on the key issues and challenges facing the world in relation to climate change.
Showcasing Nigeria’s Achievements and Initiatives
The Minister also said that the delegation is expected to showcase Nigeria’s achievements and initiatives in addressing the impacts and causes of climate change, such as the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy, the National Determined Contributions, the Green Bond Programme, the Great Green Wall Programme, the National Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, and the National Adaptation Plan, among others.
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He said that the delegation is also expected to seek and secure partnerships and collaborations with other countries and organisations to support Nigeria’s climate action and development goals, as well as to learn from the best practices and experiences of others.
Securing New Deals and Opportunities
The Minister further said that Nigeria is already benefiting from its ongoing participation at the summit, as demonstrated by several deals signed at the climate change conference.
In one of the deals, Nigeria and Germany signed an accelerated performance agreement to expedite the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) to improve Nigeria’s electricity supply.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Kenny Anuwe, the Managing Director and CEO of FGN Power Company, and Ms. Nadja Haakansson, Siemens Energy’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Africa, at a ceremony witnessed by President Tinubu and Chancellor Scholz.
President Tinubu also hosted a high-level meeting with stakeholders and investors on the Nigeria Carbon Market and the Electric Buses Rollout Programme on the margins of the COP 28 climate summit.
During the meeting, the President unveiled the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan, co- chaired by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr. Dahiru Salisu. The plan aims to establish a robust and transparent carbon market in Nigeria that will attract domestic and international investments and generate revenues for the government and the private sector.
The President also launched the Electric Buses Rollout Programme, which will deploy 10,000 electric buses across the country by 2025, reducing emissions and creating jobs,
The Minister therefore urged the public to support the government’s efforts to tackle the climate challenge and to appreciate the benefits and opportunities that the summit offers for Nigeria and its people.
The Convention of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the world’s preeminent climate change conference, attended this year by more than 70,000 participants and delegates from over 100 countries.
The summit, which started on November 30th and will end on December 12th, aims to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the global response to the climate crisis.
