At the 17th BRICS meeting for the Global South and Emerging Economies held on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, President Bola Tinubu called for greater international focus on issues like environmental degradation, the climate crisis, and healthcare disparities factors he said are stalling global growth and development.
Invited to the summit by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s alignment with BRICS’ call for collective, fair, and equitable global progress. Nigeria officially joined the bloc as a partner country in January 2025, alongside Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The partner-country status was established during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.
President Tinubu said, “Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard today and all that has happened in BRICS. The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure.”
He highlighted environmental degradation, climate crisis, and unequal healthcare systems as core challenges that disproportionately affect African countries.
“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he added.
He stressed the urgent need for a new model of justice based on equity, sustainable technology sharing, and accessible financing—measures that will allow emerging economies to benefit from ongoing global initiatives.
“The African continent is creating the path through the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall. We believe that COP-30 will strengthen our resolve to adopt a strategic approach to achieving a healthy global environment.
“Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making on financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental issues, and healthcare.
“We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 per cent of our population in Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria remains guided by our long-term vision, 2050, and nationally determined contribution.
“We are taking bold steps to accelerate renewable energy adoption, mainstream climate action, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, champion South-South cooperation, align with the global renewal framework and achieve universal health coverage for all,” the President stated.
President Tinubu further noted that global attention must include non-communicable diseases as a shared health challenge.
“As we approach COP-30 and look to strengthen the global health system, we believe the BRICS must not only be a bloc for emerging economies but also a beacon for emerging solutions and resolutions rooted in solidarity, self-reliance, sustainability, and shared prosperity of a common future.
“Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to strategic collaboration that translates into sustainable and inclusive development for all,” he noted.
President Tinubu was accompanied to the summit by Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance. Nigeria’s formal admission as a BRICS partner country was announced by Brazil on January 17, 2025, during its pro tempore presidency of the bloc.
With its position as Africa’s most populous nation and a leading economy, Nigeria’s interests strongly align with BRICS priorities. The country continues to play an active role in advancing South-South cooperation and advocating for reforms in global governance, key themes of Brazil’s current leadership of the BRICS group
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