President Tinubu Establishes Climate Accountability Portal Ahead of COP 29 to Ensure Transparency and Cost Efficiency

In preparation for Nigeria’s participation in the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22, 2024, President Bola Tinubu has approved several measures aimed at enhancing transparency and reducing costs.

Among the key initiatives is the establishment of the Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal (CAT-P), which will allow the public to monitor Nigeria’s participation and ensure efficiency in the nation’s climate action efforts.

This announcement was made by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, during a media briefing at the State House on Tuesday.

Chief Ngelale highlighted that the President is committed to ensuring that the nation’s economic conditions are considered in every aspect of governance, including international engagements like COP 29.

“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,” Ngelale stated.

The audit, conducted in response to concerns about the size of Nigeria’s delegation and the associated costs during COP 28 in Dubai, revealed significant inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures.

These included nearly $500,000 spent on a showcase pavilion and various unnecessary sub-contracts and consultancies.

To address the issues and prevent a recurrence, President Tinubu has authorized the creation of the CAT-P.

The portal will provide real-time information on the delegation attending COP 29, including the ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) at both federal and state levels, as well as members of the legislative branch.

“Nigerians will have full and real-time access to the data concerning who is attending and those the government is sponsoring to COP 29,” Ngelale assured.

In addition to the measures, Ngelale said the President has directed the government to implement strict cost-saving measures, which are expected to save nearly ₦10 billion during COP 29 compared to the expenditures incurred during COP 28.

Ngelale emphasized that this effort is part of the administration’s broader commitment to ensuring that every naira spent on climate action leads to tangible economic benefits for Nigerians.

“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,” Ngelale explained.

He further noted that only delegates with a clear economic purpose, such as engaging with companies, multilateral partners, and stakeholders to attract finance and opportunities to Nigeria, would be part of the government’s delegation to COP 29.

He added that the Nigerian delegation will utilize a more cost-effective approach by employing an 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.

“This approach aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to change and prudent management of the nation’s resources.

“This is the change that Nigerians have asked for. This is the change that President Tinubu is giving to them,” Chief Ngelale concluded.

As Nigeria prepares for COP 29, the measures introduced by President Tinubu are expected to set a new standard for the country’s participation in international conferences, ensuring that the nation’s climate commitments are met in a manner that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.