Nigeria not pursuing BRICS membership yet, VP Shettima clarifies

In the aftermath of the BRICS economic bloc’s announcement of six new member countries – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – Vice President Kashim Shettima clarified that Nigeria had not applied for BRICS membership.

BRICS is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and is seen as a counterweight to the G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States).

Addressing the issue at the BRICS Summit in South Africa, Shettima cites comprehensive evaluation and the importance of consensus-building in Nigeria’s decision-making process.

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“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,” he told Channels Television on the sideline of the BRICS Summit which was held in South Africa.

“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.”

The recently accepted nations are set to become full members from January 1, garnering enthusiastic responses from global leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

“This membership expansion is historic,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose nation is the most powerful in the group of large and populous non-Western economies.

“The expansion is also a new starting point for BRICS cooperation. It will bring new vigour to the BRICS cooperation mechanism and further strengthen the force for world peace and development”.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed what he called “a great moment” for his country, the second-most populous in Africa.

In Iran, senior presidential advisor Mohammad Jamshidi described the move as a “historic development and a strategic success” for Tehran’s foreign policy.

Additionally, VP Shettima urges Nigerians in South Africa to uphold the law and respect their host communities.