Nigeria plans to join BRICS and will not succumb to Western pressure, says foreign minister.
The country is one of the world's major oil producers.
Sputnik - During a visit to Russia, the Nigerian Foreign Minister stated that the country intends to pursue an independent policy and wishes to join BRICS.
Nigeria intends to apply for BRICS membership after completing the necessary internal procedures, the country's foreign minister said in an interview with Sputnik.
"We intend to do that. As I said, Nigeria has a deliberative democratic system, so there is usually a lot of involvement from various interest groups, different internal bodies, before such action is implemented," Tuggar said.
The minister highlighted the importance of the presence of Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria, at the 2023 BRICS summit in South Africa.
"We are very interested in this and are looking forward to it with the utmost interest," stressed the Nigerian Foreign Minister.
Tuggar also stressed that Nigeria will not succumb to external pressure from the West regarding cooperation with Russia.
"You need to understand one thing: Nigeria is not the type of country that succumbs to pressure. We have held this opinion from the beginning. Since independence in 1960, we have adhered to the Non-Aligned Movement. We are doing what we believe is right for us as a country, and nobody is dictating anything to us," Tuggar said in response to a question from Sputnik about whether the country is under pressure from the West because of its cooperation with Moscow.