Senate President Godswill Akpabio has decided to cancel his scheduled trip to Dubai, UAE, for the COP28 Climate Change Summit in response to public outrage over Nigeria’s substantial delegation to the event. The uproar ensued after it was revealed that 1,411 delegates, including government officials, representatives from the private sector, and civil society organizations, accompanied President Bola Tinubu to the summit.
The high number of delegates sparked widespread criticism from Nigerians, leading to public discontent. In response to the public outcry, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, clarified that the government only funded 422 delegates.
Speaking at a one-day retreat on the 2024 budget in Abuja, Akpabio cited the criticisms from Nigerians as the reason for canceling his trip. He expressed his decision to focus on the 2024 budget defense sessions with government agencies instead.
Akpabio stated, “I have decided to stay back, and I asked somebody from Cote d’Ivoire to represent me there.”
