Brazil Announces Nigeria as BRICS Partner Country

Nigeria has officially been announced as the 9th partner country of BRICS, the influential bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This was confirmed in a statement Brazil’s Foreign Ministry issued on Friday.

The announcement positions Nigeria alongside other new partner countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The partner country category was introduced at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.

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 statement from Brazil’s Foreign Ministry read.

Brazil, which assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1, 2025, highlighted the alignment of Nigeria’s objectives with the bloc’s mission of empowering developing countries and creating a more balanced global order.

Nigeria and BRICS have consistently advocated for reforming international institutions, such as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to reflect the changing dynamics of global power.

As Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, Nigeria’s inclusion is expected to deepen BRICS’ engagement with the continent and bolster regional efforts toward economic development and integration.

The expansion of BRICS partner countries marks a strategic move to enhance collaboration with emerging economies worldwide. The initiative reflects the bloc’s commitment to building stronger alliances among Global South countries to address shared challenges such as inequality, climate change, and trade imbalances.

The difference between full membership and partnership status lies in the level of participation in decision-making processes within the bloc. Turkey, a NATO member, formally requested to join BRICS in September—similarly, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar stated in October that the country was exploring full membership in BRICS.

Recall that the bloc recently introduced its proposed new currency, which features the Nigerian flag and the indigenous Hausa language alongside various international symbols. This development signifies Nigeria’s partnership with BRICS, a plan that began under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

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