COP31: Tinubu Absent From Leaders’ Summit for Third Consecutive Year

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has again been absent from the World Leaders’ Summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), marking the third consecutive year he has not personally attended the high-level gathering.

The two-day Antalya Leaders’ Summit, held on November 11 and 12 in Türkiye, brought together presidents, prime ministers and heads of government to present national climate priorities, announce commitments and provide political direction for international climate negotiations.

Tinubu’s absence continues a pattern that began at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024. He attended COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2023, but did not deliver his scheduled national statement.

At COP29, Nigeria’s national statement was delivered on his behalf by Balarabe Lawal, who was then Minister of Environment and Ecological Management.

The pattern continued at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in 2025, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria, while Tinubu did not personally participate in the leaders’ engagements.

At this year’s COP31, Nigeria was not included in the list of countries scheduled to deliver national statements during the opening high-level segment on November 11 and 12. However, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has scheduled a resumed high-level segment for November 17 and 18, providing another opportunity for countries whose leaders did not deliver statements during the initial phase.

Tinubu’s repeated absence has renewed discussions about Nigeria’s level of presidential engagement in international climate diplomacy, particularly given the country’s vulnerability to flooding, desertification, extreme heat and other climate-related challenges.

During his presidential campaign in October 2022, Tinubu questioned Nigeria’s ability to meet international climate obligations without adequate financial support from developed countries.

He argued that wealthier nations should provide the necessary funding and cooperation to help developing countries meet their climate commitments. The remarks attracted criticism, while his supporters maintained that developing countries should not bear the financial burden of climate action without international assistance.

Several other prominent world leaders, including United States President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also missed this year’s leaders’ summit.

Reacting to the absence of influential leaders, Michael David, founder and executive director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, said Africa could not afford to remain a passive observer while decisions affecting its future were being negotiated.

He urged African governments to push for accessible climate finance, renewable energy investment, climate-resilient agriculture and stronger support for communities affected by climate change.

Although presidential attendance is not the only measure of a country’s participation, the development has renewed attention on Nigeria’s representation and influence in international climate negotiations.