“At this moment when protectionism and unilateralism are resurging, Nigeria and Brazil reaffirm their commitment to free trade and productive integration. We remain dedicated to building a world of peace and free from hegemonic impositions,” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva posted on X after his meeting with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on August 25 in Brasilia, during Tinubu’s two-day state visit to Brazil. It is clear from the joint statement issued after their meeting, that, in addition to the dangers stemming from the world’s hotspots, the use of tariff warfare, economic sanctions, unilateral actions, and bullying against developing nations were topics of discussion, along with the role of the Global South, and particularly that of the BRICS, in defeating such hegemonic actions in order to create “a world of peace.”
The statement “underscored the importance of Nigeria’s accession as a BRICS partner country” in January this year, and expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s “desire for greater future involvement … in [BRICS] technical activities.” Nigeria’s role as a BRICS partner country “reinforces the importance that BRICS attaches to engagement with Africa and to cooperation among countries of the Global South,” the statement asserted.
