Nigeria has been officially admitted as a partner country in the BRICS alliance, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Friday.
With this development, Nigeria becomes the ninth partner country in the group, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
“The Brazilian government welcomes the Nigerian government’s decision,” the statement read. “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 plays an active role in strengthening South-South cooperation and in reforming global governance—issues that are top priorities during Brazil’s current presidency.”
The BRICS alliance, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, created the partner-country category at the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October 2024. The move is part of an expansion strategy as more nations seek alignment with the group of leading emerging economies.
Reports from the summit had already indicated Nigeria’s inclusion as a partner country, a position later affirmed by the former spokesman of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eche Abu-Obe, who described it as a significant milestone.
Nigeria’s admission underscores its growing influence as one of Africa’s major economies and its commitment to fostering South-South cooperation and global governance reform.
