Nigeria seeks South Africa’s backing to join G20, BRICS

Nigeria is seeking the support of South Africa to secure full membership in the G20 and BRICS.

Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, said in a statement on Monday that Nigeria is also eyeing membership in the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB).

Onanuga said the expanded BRICS boasts of being the engine of global economic growth in recent years, accounting for about 37 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The BRICS group was originally formed by four countries: Brazil, Russia, India, and China, which convened for their first official summit in June 2009.

In 2010, South Africa joined the group, leading to the rebranding of the organisation to BRICS.

The most recent expansion took place during the 2023 BRICS summit, where six additional countries — Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — were invited to join, effective from January 1, 2024. Argentina later declined the invitation.

At the G20 summit in New Delhi, India in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu said the group was 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.