Nigeria to Use Funds Wisely After Wasting $500,000 at COP28 - Tinubu's Aide Confirms

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu's aide, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed that an audit of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai uncovered major wasteful expenditures.

The audit identified nearly $500,000 spent on a showcase pavilion and numerous unnecessary sub-contracts and consultancies. This revelation has sparked public backlash, especially given Nigeria's ongoing economic struggles.

President Tinubu, fully aware of the economic conditions confronting Nigerians, approved the audit to scrutinize the expenditure profile of last year's COP28 climate conference.

According to Ngelale, "President Bola Tinubu is fully aware of and sensitive to the economic conditions confronting our people, and as a result, he approved an audit of the expenditure profile of last year's COP 28 climate conference."

The audit findings have prompted the administration to take corrective measures to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency in future engagements. In response to the inefficiencies observed at COP28, President Tinubu has established the Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal (CAT-P).

This portal aims to provide real-time access to data concerning the delegates attending COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, slated for November 11-22, 2024.

Ngelale emphasized, "This will, among other things, ensure that all members of the delegation across ministries, departments, and agencies at the federal and state levels, as well as the legislative branch of government, are captured on a transparent portal."

Additionally, the government has introduced stringent cost-saving measures for COP29, which are expected to save the nation nearly ₦10 billion compared to the expenditures made during COP28.

Ngelale stated, "Anyone who is not engaging in activities that are 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 around."

The Nigerian delegation will also utilize an on-site delegation office with a time slotting system within the conference complex, costing less than 10 percent of the amount spent on the previous year's pavilion. Ngelale assured, "This is the change that Nigerians have asked for. This is the change that President Tinubu is giving to them."