The Nigerian Federal Government has clarified reports circulating that it applied to join BRICS, an economic bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
The clarification was known by the country’s Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Recall that VP Shettima represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at this week’s 15th BRICS summit which held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
BRICS, an economic bloc which considers itself a counterweight to western powers, disclosed at the end of the summit that new members would be joining its fold from January 1, 2024.
The new members are Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Speaking on why Nigeria did not make the list of BRICS, Vice President Kashim Shettima said the country never applied for BRICS membership in the first place, thus the exclusion of Nigeria from the list.
“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 cognisance.
“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,” Channels Television quoted Shettima as saying on the sidelines of the summit.
Over 40 countries expressed interest to join BRICS with 23 formally applying to be part of the club.
The summit saw the attendance of more than 50 Heads of States and leaders in South Africa.
The expansion of BRICS which has been in formal existence for 15 years is considered part of a plan to forge dominance and reshape global governance, with voices of the south at the centre of this new world order.
Shettima clarified that he was asked to attend the summit by his principal because the Tinubu administration “which began less than three months ago, is examining the variables and evaluating the scope and level of regional and global cooperation to pursue in order to establish Nigeria as the desired friend and partner.”
