Nigeria is actively pursuing the support of South Africa to achieve full membership in both the G20 and BRICS organisations, Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson for the Nigerian presidency, announced on Monday.
Gatekeepers News reports that Onanuga, in a statement, said Nigeria is also interested in joining the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB).
He emphasised the significance of the expanded BRICS group, which has emerged as a vital contributor to global economic growth, representing approximately 37 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP).
BRICS was initially established by four countries—Brazil, Russia, India, and China—who held their first official summit in June 2009. South Africa joined the group in 2010, resulting in its current name, BRICS.
The latest expansion occurred during the 2023 BRICS summit, where six new countries, including Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, were invited to join, effective January 1, 2024. It is noteworthy that Argentina subsequently declined the invitation.
At the G20 summit held in New Delhi, India, in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s absence in the group, asserting that the G20 is incomplete without Nigeria as a member.
“Nigeria is poised, willing and able to be a major player in this family of the G20 and in shaping a new world, without whom, the family will remain incomplete,’’ Tinubu said in an address in which he also presented the country’s credentials as Africa’s largest economy, market and democracy.
South Africa is the only African nation in the G20.
Onanuga said Nigeria also seeks South Africa’s support to assume leadership roles in thematic discussions of interest under the country’s G20 presidency.
He said Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of state for foreign affairs, made the requests during her closing remarks at the ministerial session of the 11th Nigeria-South Africa bi-national commission (BNC) in Cape Town.
The presidential spokesperson quoted the minister to have said that the country has played active roles in peace keeping, adding that President Bola Tinubu has prioritised resolving the crisis in Sudan to foster peace and stability in the region.
‘‘We are strongly committed to seeking a resolution of the crisis in Sudan and in this guise, we seek South Africa’s support to further accelerate the peace process and ensure that within our region, conflicts are de-escalated,” the statement reads.
‘‘We can hope that with peace, greater progress and development can be achieved across all spheres.”
Roland Lamola, South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, said his country would amplify Africa’s voice during its G20 presidency and noted Nigeria’s requests.
“We will count on Nigeria’s wise counsel as we assume this major responsibility,” Lamola said.
Lamola, who co-chaired the BNC session, emphasised the mutual resolve to deepen dynamic and vibrant bilateral relations.
‘‘Our people expect South Africa and Nigeria, given our common roots, to continue working together and more closely in order that their conditions and prospects are improved and the quality of life enhanced,’’ he said.
The draft communiqué, agreed minutes, amendments and submissions raised at the ministerial session will be presented to Tinubu and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the presidential BNC session on Tuesday in Cape Town.
