The presidency has announced plans to significantly reduce expenditure for the upcoming COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan, with expected savings of over N10 billion.
Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale disclosed this to State House correspondents yesterday at the presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, in response to public outcry over the size and cost of Nigeria’s delegation to COP28 in Dubai last year, President Bola Tinubu 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.
He said “Many Nigerians would recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal government of Nigeria’s delegation to cop 28 in Dubai, UAE, last year, there were some elements of outcry concerning the size of the delegation.
“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.
“And in view of this, His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu had approved in order to be undertaken of that exercise to fully understand and ascertain what happened and what must be done to ensure that what happened never repeats itself in this country.
“And as a result of that, within the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on climate action, which I lead, and in the Office of the Director General, CEO of the National Council on climate change, an exercise has been concluded detailing exactly what the expenditure profile was of COP 28 with a view to ensuring that we implement measures that would 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.”
To address these issues, Ngelale said the government has implemented several cost-cutting measures for COP29, including the introduction of a Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal. This system will provide real-time, public access to information about delegation members and their roles, ensuring only those with an “economic imperative” attend.
“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% of the pavilion price.
“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.”
Ngelale emphasized that these changes align with President Tinubu’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency.
He stated, “This is the change that Nigerians have asked for. This is the change that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is giving to them.”
The spokesman also noted that these measures are just the beginning, suggesting that similar audits and cost-saving initiatives may be implemented for other government activities in the future.
