The Nigerian government has announced significant cost-saving measures ahead of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, expected to save the country over N10 billion.
Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, Ajuri Ngelale, who also serves as Presidential Spokesperson, revealed these plans during a briefing at the State House in Abuja. He disclosed that the Bola Tinubu administration has decided to forgo purchasing a showcase pavilion, which cost nearly $500,000 at last year’s COP28 in Dubai. Instead, the Nigerian delegation will use a delegation office within the conference complex for bilateral meetings, reducing expenses by almost 90%.
Accompanied by the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, Ngelale emphasized that these measures are part of President Tinubu’s broader commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.
“In addition to the portal, we’ve found, through our audit, that during COP28 in Dubai, there were significant expenditures made for the provision of platforms that proved to be, in our view, wasteful. So ahead of COP29, we have resolved and concluded that there will be no showcase pavilion as part of the federal government of Nigeria’s cost reduction efforts,” Ngelale said.
Further savings will be realized through the launch of the Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal. This platform will eliminate unnecessary spending on consultancies and subcontracted services by allowing the NCCC to provide essential services directly.
The portal will also offer real-time information on government delegates attending COP29, ensuring that only those with a clear economic purpose related to attracting business opportunities and finance will be sponsored by the federal government.
“This is the change that Nigerians have asked for. This is the change that President Bola Tinubu is giving to them,” Ngelale stated, underscoring the administration’s focus on responsible and efficient use of public resources.
These initiatives are part of a comprehensive audit and review process aimed at addressing inefficiencies in past government expenditures. The administration assured the public that these measures at COP29 are just the beginning of ongoing efforts to promote fiscal responsibility and transparency in governance.
