A political science expert and analyst, Professor Jideofor Adibe, has expressed his displeasure over the large number of Nigerian delegates that accompanied President Bola Tinubu to the COP 28 Climate Summit in Dubai.
Speaking on the Channels TV Sunday Politics Show, Adibe questioned the government’s sincerity in cutting down the cost of governance and showing empathy for the plight of Nigerians.
He said, “Amid the binge on loans and borrowings, and the increasing hardship and increasing emigration of Nigerians, these things happening raise the question about fidelity to cutting down the cost of governance and whether there is even compassion for suffering Nigerians.”
Adibe pointed out the huge expenses incurred by the government in sending 1411 delegates to the summit, including transportation, hotel accommodation, and daily estacodes of about $900 per delegate.
He argued that the delegation should have been more focused and limited to experts with specific roles and a maximum of three ministers, rather than a “bloated” entourage that had no clear purpose.
Adibe urged the President to take decisive steps to reduce the cost of government and sanction the officials who were responsible for the excessive delegation in Dubai.