- Shettima represented Nigeria at BRICS Summit held in South Africa
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.
Meanwhile, the Shettima, says Nigeria remains committed to collaborating with China and African countries to ensure that the objectives of the partnership are achieved for the benefit of both parties.
Mr Olusola Abiola, Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, in a statement on Friday, said Shettima stated this at the China-Africa Leaders’ Roundtable Dialogue Meeting on the margins of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Shettima spoke to a large audience at the Sandton Convention Centre, including President Xi Jinping of China, and some African leaders on the theme, “Promoting African Integration and Jointly Building a High-Level Africa-China Community with a Shared Future”.
He said “Nigeria welcomes the new initiatives introduced by the Chinese authorities, which include supporting and promoting the modernization of Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness sectors.
“It also supports the provision of robust support for Africa to expedite regional integration and backing Africa’s industrialization and infrastructure expansion.”
He commended the existing partnership between China and Africa, particularly “the three newly-identified initiatives and priority areas of cooperation between China and Africa in the areas of agriculture, industrialisation, and human capacity development.
“These align with the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra of the President Bola Tinubu’s Administration, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
“They are relevant to our continental and national development aspirations,” the vice president said.
Shettima, who praised the commitment of China, added that Nigeria firmly endorses China and anticipates forging a close collaboration with the Chinese authorities, the African Union, and all other stakeholders.
“This collective efforts will elevate the Africa-China comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to unprecedented heights, driven by our mutual pursuit of economic prosperity.”
He identified critical areas for the prevailing partnership between Africa and China to include; fostering synergy among the pertinent national institutions tasked with formulating, coordinating, and implementing national policies in the three priority areas of cooperation; and encourage efforts that promote African ownership of these initiatives.
“Other areas include the new undertakings designed in a manner that acknowledges that local percularities are community-based, and tailors to individual country needs.
“Amplify international resources for financing education in Africa; Solicit input from pertinent African Union institutions and continental organizations such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, and other related regional bodies.”
Shettima also stressed the importance of financing Africa’s Infrastructure, with a focus on advancing key infrastructural components like Farm-to-Market Corridors, Farm-to-Ports Corridors, Export Transport Corridors, Railway Networks and Road Network Upgrades.
“Also, expansions, Airport Enhancements, including dedicated export-oriented airports, Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution, are important.”
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