Nigeria Aims for BRICS Membership and G20 Entry Within Two Years

In a strategic move reported by Bloomberg, Nigeria is setting its sights on becoming a member of the BRICS economic bloc within the next two years and is also aiming to secure a position within the G20 group of nations. This development is seen as a crucial step in Nigeria’s foreign policy, as it seeks to assert its influence on the global stage in both political and economic spheres.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, emphasized that Nigeria has reached a point where it can independently decide which multilateral organizations to align itself with. According to Tuggar, being aligned with multiple organizations is in the best interest of Nigeria, and the country is well-qualified to join prestigious groups like BRICS and G20, given the size of its economy and population.

“Nigeria has come of age to decide for itself who her partners should be and where they should be, being multiple aligned is in our best interest,” stated Minister Tuggar.

Highlighting the criteria for joining groups like BRICS and G20, Tuggar pointed out that if the qualification involves the largest countries in terms of population and economy, then Nigeria, with its significant economic and demographic indicators, should rightfully be part of such alliances.

“We need to belong to groups like BRICS, like the G-20 and all these other ones because if there’s a certain criterion, say the largest countries in terms of population and economy should belong, then why isn’t Nigeria part of it?” he questioned.

Addressing the political situation in Niger, Tuggar expressed optimism about the country’s future, stating that Nigeria has not given up on Niger and believes that the current challenges are transient. He conveyed hope that Niger will soon be back on track and resume its positive trajectory.

“We’re not going to give up on Niger; we think that this is transient. So definitely they will have to come back on track,” assured Ambassador Tuggar.

Nigeria has made diplomatic overtures to both BRICS and G20 in recent times. The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, represented Nigeria at the last BRICS summit held in South Africa. However, Nigeria did not actively pursue membership during the summit, even as new members, including Ethiopia and Egypt, were admitted to the bloc.

In a separate engagement, President Bola Tinubu attended the G20 summit in September, where he was an invited guest. During the summit, Tinubu expressed his intention to advocate for Nigeria’s permanent membership in the G20, underscoring the country’s desire to play a more significant role in shaping global economic policies.

The BRICS group, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represents a coalition of emerging market powers. In a noteworthy development, these nations extended invitations to six additional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Argentina, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates, in August. This expansion is aimed at augmenting the bloc’s influence and presence on the international stage.

As Nigeria positions itself for potential membership in these influential economic and political groups, it reflects the country’s ambition to actively participate in shaping global policies and fostering stronger international collaborations. The coming years will reveal the outcomes of Nigeria’s diplomatic initiatives as it strives to become a key player in the BRICS and G20 arenas.