Nigeria never applied to join BRICS bloc – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has clarified that Nigeria did not apply for membership of BRICS, that is the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa bloc.

According to Channels Television, Shettima spoke on Friday on the sideline of the BRICS Summit held in South Africa hours after the economic bloc said it was admitting six new members, including Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Following the mixed reactions by many Nigerians who wondered why the country did not join the group, the Vice President said the country never applied for BRICS membership.

“So far, we have not applied for the membership of BRICS. And it is majorly informed by the fact that my principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a true democrat that believes in consensus building,” Shettima said.

Shettima, who represented Nigeria at the summit, also called on Nigerians in South Africa to be law-abiding and to respect the host citizens wherever they live.