Did Nigeria Did Apply To Join BRICS? – Shettima Opens Up

Did Nigeria Did Apply To Join BRICS? – Shettima Opens Up

Vice President Kashim Shettima clarified that Nigeria had not applied for membership in BRICS – the economic alliance consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Shettima’s statement came shortly after BRICS announced the admission of six new members – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Addressing the question of Nigeria’s absence from the group, Shettima stated on Friday that the country had never submitted an application for BRICS membership.

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“Our decision not to pursue BRICS membership at this time is largely influenced by the principled democratic beliefs of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who emphasizes consensus building,” he said in an interview with Channels Television during the BRICS Summit held in South Africa.

Shettima explained that there were numerous factors to consider, requiring consultations with the economic advisory council, Federal Executive Council, and even the National Assembly, before making a well-informed decision about joining BRICS.

Representing Nigeria at the summit, Shettima also conveyed a message to Nigerians living in South Africa, urging them to abide by the law and show respect to their host country’s citizens.

The newly admitted countries are set to attain full membership status starting from January 1.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, the leader of the most influential nation within BRICS, hailed the expansion as “historic” and believed it would invigorate the group’s cooperation and enhance global peace and development efforts.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his country’s enthusiasm as the second-most populous African nation joining BRICS, referring to the move as “a great moment.”

Senior Iranian presidential advisor Mohammad Jamshidi regarded the development as a “historic accomplishment” for Iran’s foreign policy.

Both Egypt and the UAE expressed their readiness to collaborate within the loosely structured coalition, representing a significant portion of the world’s population and wealth across multiple continents.