The Bola Tinubu-led administration has clarified that the number of delegates from Nigeria attending the ongoing COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, funded by the federal government, is 422.
The government was reacting to the backlash it received over the large-sized Nigerian delegation, which included two of President Tinubu’s sons and a popular media personality, Toke Makinwa.
A statement sent to journalists by the minister of information, Mohammed Idris, noted that with more than 70,000 participants and delegates from over 100 countries, Nigeria’s representation is very much in line with its status as Africa’s leading player in climate action.
”Parties to this 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.
”It is imperative to point out that the overall Nigerian delegation to COP-28 comprises Government-sponsored (Federal and State Governments) and non-government-sponsored participants (from Private Companies, NGOs, CSOs, Media, academia, etc),” the minister added.
He said the Federal Government-funded delegation is made up of a total of 422 persons, as follows:
1. National Council on Climate Change = 32
2. Federal Ministry of Environment = 34
3. All Ministries = 167
4. Presidency = 67
5. Office of the Vice President = 9
6. National Assembly = 40
7. Federal Parastatals/Agencies = 73
