Brazil has officially announced Nigeria’s admission as a partner country in the BRICS alliance, making it the ninth nation to join the bloc in this capacity.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry confirmed the development in a statement released on Friday, highlighting Nigeria’s growing influence in global economic and diplomatic affairs.
With this announcement, Nigeria joins Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan as a BRICS partner country. The category was created during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024, allowing emerging economies to collaborate more closely with the core BRICS members.
The statement from Brazil emphasized Nigeria’s strategic importance, stating:
“With the world’s sixth-largest population—and Africa’s largest—as well as being one of the continent’s major economies, Nigeria shares convergent interests with other members of BRICS.”
It further noted that Nigeria plays an active role in South-South cooperation and supports efforts to reform global governance, aligning with Brazil’s priorities during its 2025 BRICS presidency.
Originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS has expanded its influence as more countries seek to align with its economic and geopolitical vision.
Nigeria’s participation as a partner country is seen as a significant step in its diplomatic strategy, strengthening ties with major emerging economies.
Reports from the 2024 BRICS Summit indicated Nigeria’s interest in joining the alliance, with Eche Abu-Obe, the former spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, previously confirming the country’s acceptance into the league.
