Nigeria Explores BRICS Membership in Next Two Years

Nigeria is contemplating joining the BRICS group of nations within the next two years, as reported by Bloomberg. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, emphasized Nigeria’s desire to align with groups that have good intentions, well-meaning goals, and clearly defined objectives.

Tuggar stated, “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. We need to belong to groups like BRICS, like the G-20 and all these others 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 comprises emerging market powers such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In August, these nations extended invitations to six additional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Argentina, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates, to join their ranks, aiming to enhance the bloc’s influence.

Analysts have highlighted Nigeria’s absence from BRICS, considering Africa’s largest economy as potentially gaining economic and political leverage through membership. Despite the bloc’s invitation for new members in August, Vice President Kashim Shettima noted that Nigeria had not yet applied for BRICS membership, citing a commitment to consensus building.