According to a Bloomberg report, Nigeria aims to secure membership in the BRICS group of nations within the coming two years.
Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, shared this aspiration, emphasizing Nigeria’s willingness to join any open and well-intentioned group with clear and beneficial objectives.
He said, “Nigeria has come of age to decide for itself who her partners should be and where they should be, being multiple aligned is in our best interest.”
He continued, “We need to belong to groups like BRICS, like the G-20 and all these other ones because if there’s a certain criterion, say the largest countries in terms of population and economy should belong, then why isn’t Nigeria part of it?”
BRICS, composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represents a consortium of emerging market powers. Recently, in a move to amplify their influence, they extended invitations to six additional nations—Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Argentina, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates—to join their ranks.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has notably not been part of BRICS, sparking discussions among analysts about the potential economic and political advantages the bloc could offer the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima acknowledged in August that Nigeria did not pursue membership in BRICS despite the bloc’s announcement of new entrants.
He said, “So far, we have not applied for the membership of BRICS. And it is majorly informed by the fact that my principal President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a true democrat that believes in consensus building.
“There are so many variables that need to be taken into cognizance. We have to evaluate so many tendencies and issues that require engagements with the economic advisory council, the Federal Executive Council, and even the National Assembly before an informed decision towards joining the BRICS would be taken.”
Later in September, the presidency, while stating it had received an invitation from the G-20, affirmed it did not apply to join BRICS.
However, it noted that it will do whatever serves the interest of the economy of the country. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read in parts, “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.’
It added, “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.”
