Amidst the predicted challenges of joining BRICS, Nigeria’s relationship with member countries of the bloc is expected to deepen, especially in areas of technology and infrastructure. The effectiveness of Nigeria’s BRICS membership largely depends on whether the country can craft policies that capitalize on this new alliance while simultaneously addressing its many domestic and international. For instance, the Nigerian government aspires to join the G20, and South Africa, a founding BRICS member, currently hold the G20 chairmanship. This presents Nigeria with an opportunity to leverage its BRICS partnership as a potential pathway to G20 membership. As Nigeria seeks a bigger role on the global stage, internal political and socioeconomic conditions suggest a misalignment in governance priorities. With rising inflation, increase in the cost of living for the average people, and a government struggling to address the population’s hardships, the current administration appears to be pursuing ‘easy wins’ by spotlighting geopolitical developments such as its BRICS partnership.  

In terms of foreign policy clarity, Nigeria has not acted as a particularly good neighbour, especially considering the speed with which the government rallied regional support to sanction former ECOWAS members that opposed foreign influence in their governance. These countries—Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, now members of the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—have taken concrete steps to assert their sovereignty by expelling foreign militaries and media broadcasters as part of their efforts to tackle insecurity and poor governance. Compared to the members of the AES, the current Nigerian administration enjoys little popular support. The decision to apply for BRICS membership appears disconnected from the priorities of the average Nigerian, who continues to face economic hardships driven by policies that primarily serve multinational corporations and local captains of industry. While improved material conditions as a result of BRICS engagement would be welcome, a focus on sustainable development is more likely to alleviate the hardships of Nigerians. 

Nigeria’s swift decision to join BRICS is also notable, especially as countries like Vietnam, Turkey and Algeria are still considering their invitations. Turkey, for instance, appears to be taking its time to determine how best to balance strong ties with BRICS members while maintaining its connections with European and American partners. Algeria, meanwhile, applied to join BRICS with a request to become a shareholder in the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), pledging a $1.5billion contribution to the bank’s capital. In essence, countries are making strategic decisions regarding BRICS, and while its advantages may be apparent, domestic interests remain a key consideration.  

As BRICS’s influence continues to grow, countries will keep making strategic calculations on how best to leverage this platform for global South cooperation and shared development. Nigeria’s decision to join as a partner signals its desire to be at the forefront of this emerging geopolitical order. However, Nigeria must carefully navigate its complex internal challenges while weighing both the opportunities and risks of a BRICS membership. Nigeria’s decision to join BRICS signals a shift in its foreign policy goals—one that demands clarity and strategic thinking, qualities the Nigerian government has yet to convincingly demonstrated. Still, it remains to be seen whether the country can embrace this new position on the global stage and effectively integrate into BRICS while charting a more coherent path in geopolitics and international cooperation⎈