By Hon. Justice Usman B. Bwala (Rtd)
Throughout history, the preservation of peace and stability among nations has been of paramount concern to leaders whether city-states, empires, or nations as we have today. In the past, nations formed alliances as a means of preserving and protecting states. With the coming of the First World War, former alliances were seen as ineffective so the League of Nations was formed.
By 1939, the Second World War was on and when it ended in 1945 the United Nations Organization was established to check any global or state wars. Smaller continental groups were formed like the OAS, Organization of American States, OAU now AU African Union, with the aim of enhancing world peace. Other Organizations were formed like the Non-Aligned movement. With the collapse of communism and the USSR, Non-Aligned movement fell into the oblivion of history.
Of recent, a very powerful organization has emerged called BRIC meaning Brazil, Russia, India China. The genesis of BRICS was a side meeting of foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, in the month of September 2006 in New York. A formal meeting was held in Yekaterinburg Russia on 16th September, 2009 (Wikipedia). It became BRICS when South Africa joined it in 2010.
The name BRIC was coined by Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sach in 2001 the original name being BRIC before South Africa joined (Wikipedia). The most populated countries in the world China and India being members, BRICS constitutes 40% of the world population. It’s becoming more of an economic powerhouse as it has established New Development Bank and a payment system. As of now, it meets once a year (Wikipedia).
BRICS groups mainly include countries from Asia, Africa, and South America. At its latest meeting held in Johannesburg in August, 2023 six new states were admitted namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and UAE. The million-dollar question is: should Nigeria join BRICS or not?
Nigeria played its role as a colonial country under the UK and fought side by side in the First and Second World Wars with British Soldiers. After independence, Nigerian soldiers were in Congo to maintain peace ever since then Nigeria as a nation has been active in the UN, AU, and ECOWAS. Our joining BRICS will further enhance our standing as a world power.
Nigeria has the largest population in Africa, our joining BRICS will solidify our being the strong country in Africa. Nigeria is the strongest country in ECOWAS and holds the chair as of now. Nigeria’s soldiers in collaboration with other ECOWAS countries stabilized and brought peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Gambia using the famous ECOMOG.
Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa while Lagos state ranks as the 5th strongest economy on the continent. Joining BRICS will enable us consolidate and grow our economy further. About one out of four black persons in the world is a Nigerian. Nigeria plays an active role in world affairs joining BRICS will be a further testament.
BRICS is an expanding organization whose limit is the sky, joining it now will enable us explore and benefit this limitless powerhouse as two of the developed world powers (China, Russia) and two of the leading developing Nations, (Brazil and India) are members. Joining it now and not later we will benefit from it economically, politically, and militarily. Time waits for nobody, Nigeria should join BRICS without much ado.
BRICS may wish to admit as many countries as are willing to join, have a law to govern itself, and a permanent headquarters.
Finally, well done BRICS.
Hon. Justice U.B. Bwala (Rtd), a former judge of Borno State Judiciary wrote from Maiduguri
