The President’s Media and Publicity Special Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has received an invitation to join the G-20 and is currently evaluating the benefits of membership in the world’s largest economies gathering. Ngelale also dismissed viral reports suggesting that Nigeria has already joined both the G-20 and BRICS, another major emerging economies group consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. He made this clarification during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Monday.
He said, “There are very wide and extensive consultations taking place within the government. We are assessing both the risks and benefits of becoming a G-20 member. We stand very confident that if our government takes a conscientious view that we should apply to become a member of the G-20, we have an excellent chance of being accepted.
“We have not applied to BRICS contrary to speculations out there. We have made no application to BRICs or the G-20 as of today. Our consideration is based on empirical analysis. It’s not based on sentiment or emotion. It’s about whether or not it will serve the national interest in the national economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the assessment we’re making now.
“We’re still studying it. It is noteworthy that we are being invited with a special invitation by the host nation, India, to be part of this. But look, we want to be clear with our people that this is not just about theatrics, or some cosmetic view of geopolitics. This is about a black-and-white pursuit of the interest of investment to ensure that we can put our people to work in the country.”
