President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has failed to attend the Antalya Leaders’ Summit at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Türkiye, marking the third consecutive year he has been absent from the high-level climate gathering.
The two-day summit, which commenced on Wednesday, November 11, and ended on Thursday, November 12, brought together presidents, prime ministers and other world leaders to deliberate on global climate challenges, climate action and the future of international climate negotiations.
Nigeria was also missing from the list of countries scheduled to deliver national statements during the first phase of the high-level segment on November 11 and 12, according to the programme released by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
RelatedPosts
Tinubu last attended the leaders’ summit during COP28, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2023, where he participated in the World Leaders’ Summit.
However, at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024, Nigeria was represented by the then Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, who delivered the country’s national statement.
Similarly, at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in 2025, Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented the President, leading Nigeria’s delegation and participating in discussions on climate action, forest conservation, energy transition and climate financing.
Despite Nigeria’s absence from the opening round of national statements at COP31, the country may still have an opportunity to address the gathering during the second phase of the high-level segment.
According to the UNFCCC, the resumed high-level segment is scheduled for November 17 and 18, providing an opportunity for countries whose presidents or heads of government did not deliver statements during the initial phase to make their presentations.
Meanwhile, provisional registration figures published by the UNFCCC show that Nigeria has registered 1,506 participants for COP31, making it the country with the third-largest delegation at the conference.
Host nation Türkiye leads with 2,950 registered participants, followed by Brazil with 1,994. Nigeria is ahead of China, which has 1,021 participants, and Indonesia, with 978.
The Nigerian delegation comprises 573 participants registered under the Party badge category and another 933 under Party Overflow.
However, the figures are provisional and do not necessarily mean that all the registered participants are government officials or climate negotiators.
The high-level discussions at COP31 are centred on key issues, including the transition to clean energy, investment in green industries, access to climate financing and building resilient cities.
The conference is expected to continue until November 20, with further negotiations focusing on climate adaptation and financial support for countries facing the devastating effects of climate change.
READ ALSO:
- Tinubu Misses COP31 Leaders’ Summit For Third Consecutive Year
- ECOWAS Appoints Former Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo To Lead Nigeria’s 2027 Election Observers
- NPA’s $1bn Port Modernisation Programme Creates Investment Opportunities, Targets Non-Oil Export Growth
- Now that the Russia-Africa summit is over, what did Africa actually bring home? | By Dotun Olayemi
- Governor Dauda Lawal Appoints 282 aides to strengthen inclusive governance in Zamfara State
