Vice President Kashim Shettima will no longer represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM) in Samoa due to damage to his aircraft.
The Presidency announced Thursday night that a foreign object struck the plane’s cockpit windscreen during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
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The announcement, issued by Presidential Media Adviser Bayo Onanuga, clarified that the plane is currently under repair and that President Bola Tinubu approved a new delegation, led by Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal, to attend the summit on behalf of Nigeria.
The summit, held from October 21 to 26 in Samoa’s capital, Apia, brings together heads of government from 56 Commonwealth nations, including the United Kingdom’s King Charles III.
“Vice President Shettima’s trip to Samoa to represent Nigeria has been cancelled after a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport,” Onanuga stated. “The plane’s windscreen was damaged, and a ministerial delegation has been appointed to attend the summit.”
Shettima, who initially left Abuja last Sunday on President Tinubu’s behalf, returned to Nigeria along with Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar after the incident. This marks the second time Shettima’s international travel has been interrupted due to aircraft issues; in May, he had to cancel a trip to the U.S.-Africa Business Summit due to a technical fault.
The 2024 CHOGM summit, themed “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,” addresses issues around resilience, connectivity, and digital advancement among Commonwealth nations. Leaders will also appoint the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.
