Vice-President Kashim Shettima has explained why Nigeria was excluded from the list of new members of BRICS, an economic bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Stating that Nigeria has not applied to join BRICS, Shettima stated that it is because there has been no domestic consensus yet as evaluation of the bloc is still going on.
Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 15th BRICS summit which held this week at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, said on the sidelines of the summit said 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.
“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.”
BRICS, which is considered as counterweight to Western powers and interests, had at the end of the summit on Thursday announced six new new members that would be joining its fold from January 1 next year.
Nigeria, as a regional power and leader in West Africa, was expected to be among the new members.
But South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who announced the new membership list, said they include Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
More than 40 countries expressed interest in joining BRICS, with 23 formally applying to be part of the club.
Some 50 Heads of State and Governments attended the summit 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 Global South at the centre of this new world order.
