Nigeria’s Biggest Mistake: Not Joining BRICS, Says Former Presidential Aspirant
Nigeria’s failure to join the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) at the right time has been identified as the country’s biggest mistake in the first quarter of this century. This assertion was made by Adamu Garba, a former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement signed by Garba, he stated that Nigeria’s inability to join the BRICS has led to a series of negative consequences, including the collection of Western loans and monies that have aligned the country’s policies to Western interests. Despite this, Western countries have started targeting Nigeria’s government with bad press and rejection campaigns.
Garba pointed out that the situation is further complicated by Europe’s planned ban on cocoa exports from Nigeria by January 2026, purportedly due to deforestation. He also criticized the repatriation of hardened criminals from European prisons to Nigeria, which he believes will exacerbate the country’s existing security challenges.
Furthermore, Garba argued that the West’s encouragement of neoliberal economic policies has led to accusations of massive economic failures against Nigeria. He also criticized Canada’s decision to declare the APC and PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) members as terrorist organizations, saying it is a clear indication that Western countries are not genuine in their claims of promoting global democracy.
According to Garba, Nigeria’s indecision and fear have resulted in the loss of trust from most BRICS countries and the country’s Western allies. He noted that the older generations of Nigerian leaders failed to realize that the West is no longer the dominant global power it once was, and that Europe is now largely dependent on the United States for its survival.
Garba emphasized that Nigeria needs to redefine its future by taking its destiny into its own hands and reorganizing its foreign policy agenda to reflect its strength, value, and contribution to global goods. He also advised the country to fuse itself with the global south alliance, leveraging networks such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to redeem itself.
In his words, “We must accept the fact that we are full members of the global south, and we should fuse ourselves with the global south alliance, all comprehensively, including by leveraging on networks such as BRICS and SCO.”
Garba’s statement highlights the growing recognition of the need for Nigeria to diversify its international relationships and to pursue a more independent foreign policy. As the country navigates an increasingly complex global landscape, it remains to be seen whether it will heed Garba’s advice and join forces with the BRICS and other emerging global powers.
