In a series of tweets on his official X handle on Sunday, the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, expressed his disapproval of Nigeria’s massive delegation to the ongoing UN climate summit in Dubai. Obi sarcastically applauded Nigeria, often referred to as the “giant of Africa,” for matching China’s delegation numbers, with both countries sending 1411 representatives to the COP28 conference.
Obi highlighted the irony of this situation, emphasizing that Nigeria’s delegation size equalling that of China was unwarranted and unnecessary. This immense number of delegates has raised concerns about the efficiency, cost, and environmental impact of such a substantial representation.
The former Governor called on the Nigerian government to prioritize the country’s limited resources and channel them into more critical areas, such as addressing climate change challenges domestically and investing in renewable energy technologies. Obi argued that reducing the delegation’s size would demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to tackling climate issues while also setting an example for other countries to follow.
Obi’s criticism echoes the sentiments of many Nigerians who believe that the country’s delegation should be more modest, considering its struggling economy and pressing climate-related issues at home. As the UN climate summit continues, it remains to be seen how the Nigerian government will respond to these concerns and whether adjustments will be made to their delegation size in the future.z
