The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, clarified on Monday that the Federal Government funded 422 individuals to attend the ongoing COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, UAE.

The statement was issued amid controversy surrounding the initially reported 1,411 Nigerian registered delegates at the summit.

President Bola Tinubu left Abuja on November 29, 2023, to participate in the summit scheduled to conclude on December 12, 2023.

In response to concerns about the number of Nigerian delegates, particularly in comparison to China, Idris sought to provide clarity.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s representation aligns with its status as Africa’s leading sovereign voice and player in climate action.

The Nigerian delegation includes government officials, representatives from the private sector, civil society, the voluntary sector, state governments, media, multilateral institutions, and representatives of marginalized communities, among others.

Minister Idris stated, “It is imperative to point out that the overall Nigerian delegation to COP-28 comprises Government-sponsored (Federal and State Governments) and non-government-sponsored participants (from Private Companies, NGOs, CSOs, Media, academia, etc).”

He further broke down the composition of the Federal Government-funded delegation, which consists of 32 from the National Council on Climate Change, 34 from the Federal Ministry of Environment, 167 from various ministries, 67 from the Presidency, 9 from the Office of the Vice President, 40 from the National Assembly, and 73 from federal parastatals/agencies.

Minister Idris reassured Nigerians that the President and other officials in the government’s delegation were in Dubai for “serious business, not a jamboree.”

He emphasized Nigeria’s active and robust participation at COP, underscoring the country’s status as the biggest economy and most populous country in Africa.