Nigeria admitted as partner country of BRICS bloc

Nigeria joins BRICS as partner country, strengthening South-South cooperation and reforming global governance with other developing economies.

Nigeria has been admitted as a "partner country" of the BRICS bloc of developing economies, according to Brazil, the group's chair.

BRICS was formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009, with South Africa added in 2010, as a counterweight to the Group of Seven (G-7) leading industrialised nations.

In 2023, the bloc added Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE, while Saudi Arabia has been invited to join.

Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied to become BRICS members, while a few others have also expressed interest.

Nigeria becomes the ninth BRICS partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

"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," the Brazil government said in a statement on Friday.

"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," it added.