Nigeria, 12 new nations become BRICS partner countries, Abuja confirms development {FULL LIST}
By KEMI KASUMU
Nigeria’s inclusion as a partner country aligns with previous statements in November 2023 by Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, who expressed the country’s intention to join BRICS as a full member within the next two years, leveraging its large economy and population.
BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – Group of nations has officially expanded its alliance, adding 13 new nations as partner countries, though not as full members.
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This happened three days before Borno South senatorial district Senator Ali Ndume called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allign with the global bloc in his de-dollarisation effort to stop the country’s continued dependence on the United States of America’s dollar and ease the pressure on the Naira.
The announcement was made during the BRICS Summit, held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024.
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The 2024 summit, themed “Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security,” marked the sixteenth annual gathering of the global powers bloc, with a focus on enhancing economic integration with key emerging nations.
A post on X (former Twitter) from the bloc on Thursday read, “BRICS officially adds 13 new nations to the alliance as partner countries (not full members).”
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The countries are Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe on Thursday October 24 reportedly confirmed Nigeria as a partner in BRICS.
“Yes. It is true that Nigeria joined BRICS as a partner,” he said.
BRICS, originally an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanded in 2010 to include South Africa, thus forming BRICS.
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The group has since added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full members earlier in 2024, all of whom attended this year’s summit as full participants.
The organisation aims to foster trade, investment, development, security, and cooperation among leading emerging market economies.
Nigeria’s inclusion as a partner country aligns with previous statements in November 2023 by Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, who expressed the country’s intention to join BRICS as a full member within the next two years, leveraging its large economy and population.
According to this official record, the country may join BRICS as full member in near future.
