Tinubu Urges Global Reforms, Warns Against Environmental and Healthcare Inequity at BRICS Summit

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for an overhaul of the global governance, financial, and healthcare systems, stressing the need for greater inclusion of low-income and emerging economies, especially those in Africa. The Nigerian leader made the remarks on Saturday while addressing the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu emphasized the urgency of tackling environmental degradation, the worsening climate crisis, and widening healthcare disparities — issues he said continue to hinder development across Africa.

“Environmental degradation, climate crisis, and global healthcare inequalities are shared concerns, especially for Africa,” Tinubu said. “Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most.”

The President, who attended the summit at the invitation of Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for BRICS’ push for fair, inclusive, and collective global development. He called for a shift towards justice-oriented systems anchored in sustainable technology transfer and accessible financing mechanisms to allow emerging economies to thrive.

“Nigeria aligns with what BRICS represents. The next pressing issues we must address are financial restructuring and the reevaluation of the current global framework,” he said.

Tinubu outlined Nigeria’s ongoing climate and development initiatives, including its involvement in the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall project. He also expressed hope that the upcoming COP-30 climate summit would inspire a unified global strategy toward environmental sustainability.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to South-South cooperation, Tinubu said the country would not remain passive in decisions concerning debt relief, climate action, environmental policies, and healthcare reforms. He highlighted the need to address the future of young populations, noting that 70% of Nigeria’s citizens are youth.

“We must be the architects of a future that reflects the specific needs and aspirations of our young people,” he said. “Our Vision 2050 and nationally determined contributions are guiding us to accelerate renewable energy adoption, enhance climate resilience, and achieve universal health coverage.”

On healthcare, Tinubu stressed the importance of addressing non-communicable diseases, which continue to strain health systems in developing countries.

“As we prepare for COP-30 and seek to strengthen global health systems, BRICS must go beyond being a bloc of emerging economies. It must serve as a platform for solutions rooted in solidarity, sustainability, and shared prosperity,” he added.

Tinubu concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s dedication to strategic partnerships that drive inclusive and sustainable development for all.

Nigeria was formally admitted as a BRICS partner country on January 17, 2025, joining the ranks of Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. As one of Africa’s largest economies and the sixth most populous nation in the world, Nigeria shares key interests with the expanding BRICS alliance.