By Abiola Olawale
Vice President Kashim Shettima will no longer serve as Nigeria’s representative at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa as originally planned.
This is as the Vice president’s trip was cancelled after a foreign object struck his aircraft during a stopover at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, the United States.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the object damaged the cockpit windscreen of the plane, making it difficult for Shettima to proceed with the trip.
Therefore, a delegation led by the Minister of the Environment, Balarabe Lawal, will now represent Nigeria at the biennial event.
The statement reads in part: “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.”
The New Diplomat reports that the summit began on the Pacific island on October 21 and would end on Saturday, October 26.
The VP was scheduled to join King Charles of England and other world leaders from 56 member countries at the first CHOGM to be held on the Pacific island of Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26.
It would also be recalled that this will be the second trip Shettima will cancel mid-way.
In May, he was 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.
