In an unexpected turn of events, Vice President Kashim Shettima will not be attending the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa due to damage sustained by his aircraft. The cancellation follows an incident in which “a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York,” as revealed by the Presidency in a statement on Thursday night.
Consequently, a ministerial delegation led by the Minister of the Environment, Balarabe Lawal, will now represent Nigeria at the biennial event. The statement, issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, was titled ‘Cockpit windscreen of VP Shettima’s plane damaged at JFK Airport, ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at Samoa Commonwealth summit.’
Shettima had departed Abuja last Sunday at the request of President Bola Tinubu. Onanuga elaborated, “Vice President Kashim Shettima’s trip to Samoa has been canceled after a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover. The foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of the plane.”
In light of this incident, President Tinubu swiftly approved the ministerial delegation to attend the summit in Apia, Samoa, while repairs on the aircraft are underway. “Repair has commenced,” Onanuga confirmed, ensuring that the situation is being handled promptly.
The ministerial team, now led by Lawal, will participate in a summit that began on October 21 and continues until October 26. Shettima was scheduled to join prominent leaders, including King Charles of England, at this significant gathering, which aims to promote resilience and cooperation among Commonwealth nations.
During the summit, Nigeria and other member countries will also elect the next Commonwealth Secretary-General, with discussions centered around the theme “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.”
Onanuga concluded with an update that “Vice President Shettima and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar have left New York for Nigeria.” This cancellation marks the second time Shettima has had to abandon a trip mid-flight; in May, he returned from the US-Africa Business Summit due to a technical fault with his aircraft, following the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet.
