Nigeria Will Consult Widely Before Deciding On BRICS Membership, Says Vice-President Shettima

 

“’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.”

PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | AUGUST 26, 2023

Nigeria’s vice-president, Kashim Shettima has debunked the insinuation that the country has applied to become a member of the emerging power bloc, BRICS.

Shettima who spoke hours after the economic bloc said it is admitting six new members – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE said Nigeria will consult widely before joining BRICS.

While many wondered why Nigeria, a leading power in Africa did not join the group, Shettima on Friday reminded the media that contrary to speculation in the media, the country never applied for BRICS membership.

“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 newly admitted countries would become full members from January 1.

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

“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”.

Also speaking at the meeting the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, hailed what he called “a great moment” for his country. In Iran, senior presidential advisor Mohammad Jamshidi described the move as a “historic development and a strategic success” for Tehran’s foreign policy.

Others include, Egypt and the UAE also broadcast their readiness to work with the loosely defined group that represents billions of people on four continents and a quarter of the world’s wealth.

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