It has been revealed that Vice President Kashim Shettima will no longer represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa as planned.
According to the presidency’s report on Thursday night, the said trip was called off after “a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.”
Therefore, a delegation led by Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of the Environment, will now represent Nigeria at the biennial event.
Meanwhile, the statement signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity. The released statement is titled “Cockpit windscreen of VP Shettima’s plane damaged at JFK airport, ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at Samoa Commonwealth summit.”
In the statement, Mr. Onanuga stated: “Vice President Kashim Shettima’s trip to Samoa to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit has been cancelled after a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
“The foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of the plane.
“President Tinubu, acting promptly, has approved a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit in the Samoa capital of Apia while the plane’s repair has commenced,” he added.
On the other hand, the delegation, which will be representing Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, is being led by Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment.
However, the summit commenced on the Pacific Island on October 21 and is slated to end on Saturday, October 26.
The VP was scheduled to join other world leaders from 56 member countries including King Charles of England at the first CHOGM to be held on the Pacific Island of Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26.
Furthermore, the theme will focus on how member countries can harness their strengths through resilience, unlock potential, leverage the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’, and foster a connected, digital Commonwealth.
According to reports, one of the events to take place at the at meeting, is the election and appointment of the next Commonwealth Secretary-General, before Nigeria and other member countries.
The leaders will also be deliberating on the theme, "One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth."
However, Onanuga revealed: “Vice President Shettima and foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar have left New York for Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, it is important to note that this will be the second trip Shettiman has cancelled mid-way.
In May, the Vice president was reportedly scheduled to represent the President at the US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, but returned midflight due to a technical fault with his aircraft.
The Presidency stated that Shettima heeded the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet to shelve the trip.
