As the humongous number of Nigeria’s delegation at the climate change summit (COP28) in Dubai continues to generate various reactions, a new startling revelation has emerged showing the composition of the delegates.
Daily reports that among the registered Nigerian participants at COP28 are Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Tinubu, as well as chefs, luggage officers, stewards, and a substantial number of personal assistants.
While Nigeria boasted a total of 1,411 delegates at the conference, the Federal Government sponsored 422 individuals.
This substantial number has drawn criticism from various quarters, including political figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party, respectively. They’ve denounced the delegation’s size, branding it as a wasteful use of limited resources.
The PDP has challenged the government to disclose the identities of the delegates and urged the National Assembly to investigate this bloated representation.
They’ve also called on Tinubu to be prepared to reimburse expenses for delegates deemed to have insignificant roles at the summit.
The delegation also features more than 30 ministers and heads of various government agencies, covering areas such as Environment, Water Resources, Foreign Affairs, Finance, and many others.
In an interesting mix, the list includes individuals from diverse sectors like entertainment, government services, and the private sector. Notable among them are actress and on-air personality Toke Makinwa, officials from the Lagos State Government, a Lagos State House of Assembly representative, and a staff member from PZ Cussons.
The United Nations has highlighted Nigeria as the third-largest delegation at the event, trailing only behind China and Brazil.
The delegation also includes representatives from different governmental bodies, such as the State House, the National Council on Climate Change, the Ministry of Environment, the National Assembly, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.
The sheer scale and range of representation in the Nigerian delegation have ignited discussions about the necessity and effectiveness of such a comprehensive contingent at the summit.
