Atiku Slams Nigeria’s Overblown COP29 Delegation Amid Austerity Calls
Atiku Critiques Nigeria’s Expensive COP29 Delegation and Government Spending
Nigeria’s COP29 Delegation Faces Criticism for Excessive Spending
BY SHEKWOPEYELO
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has mocked the Nigerian government for its oversized delegation to the COP29 Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. At a time when President Bola Tinubu’s administration preaches austerity to reduce government spending, the Nigerian delegation reportedly includes 634 members, funded by the federal government.
This number is a sharp increase from Nigeria’s delegation to COP28 in Dubai, which numbered 590, and far exceeds the 120 delegates sent to COP27 in Egypt. The current delegation has sparked public outrage, with critics highlighting the apparent contradiction between the government’s austerity rhetoric and the extravagant spending on international conferences.
While the government claims it only funded 422 of the 634 delegates, this still represents a significant increase over previous years. Atiku pointed out the absurdity of spending N866 million on flight expenses for the COP29 delegation, calling it an example of excessive wastefulness.
The criticism also touches on the broader issue of governance under President Tinubu, who has faced backlash for funding lavish delegations while advocating for cuts in public spending. Atiku’s remarks suggest that the government’s approach to governance is contradictory—promising austerity while indulging in extravagant international events.
This version ensures a focus on the key issues of Atiku’s criticism, Nigeria’s delegation size, and the contrast with the government’s austerity claims.
