Nigeria set for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan
The Federal Government says preparation is in top gear for Nigeria’s participation in the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, in November in Baku, Azerbaijan.
To this end, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorised the establishment of the Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal and other measures to ensure efficiency and accountability in the nation’s participation in the annual global event to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 – 22, 2024.
Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the new directives when he briefed State House Correspondents on Thursday at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Ngelale said that Nigerian delegation would be using the on site delegates ‘office to conduct bilateral meetings and other meetings instead of the showcase pavilion to reduce cost.
He further explained that the Nigerian delegation would efficiently utilise the on-site delegation office with a time slotting system within the conference complex, which will cost less than 10 per cent of the amount spent the previous year on the pavilion.
He explained, “This review and resolution process is conducted to ensure that whatever is spent ahead of COP 29 has a function that will lead to the economic empowerment of our people and the economic development of our nation.
“Additionally, this will ensure that anyone attending this conference has an economic imperative to be at that conference, engaging with companies, multilateral partners and stakeholders who will attract finance and opportunity into the country for the benefit of our people.
“Anyone not engaging in activities directly linked to the attraction of climate engagement, business opportunity, and ushering new finance into the country will not be part of the federal government’s delegation this time.”
The presidential aide also announced the creation of an accountability portal where Nigerians can access conference information, such as details of government-sponsored officials at COP29 and spending on the conference.
The Special Envoy affirmed that anyone not engaging in activities directly linked to the attraction of business opportunities into the country “will not be part of the Federal Government’s delegation this time.”
“The President had approved that the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, in collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change, establish the Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal as a tool for every Nigerian to verify the number of delegates attending COP29 later this year,” he announced.
Ngelale said the portal will, among other things, capture all members of delegation across ministries, departments and agencies, and even the legislative branch of government.
“This will mean that Nigerians will have full and real-time access to the numbers of those who are attending and those who the government is sponsoring COP29.
“This will also ensure that anyone attending this conference has an economic imperative to be at that conference,” he explained.(www.amatropics.com)
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