Vice President Kashim Shettima has had to cancel his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM) in Samoa after his aircraft’s cockpit windscreen was damaged at JFK Airport in New York. The Presidency announced that a foreign object struck the plane during a stopover, leading to the Vice President’s decision to halt the journey. In his absence, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, will now lead Nigeria’s delegation to the summit.
The summit in Apia, Samoa, aims to strengthen collaboration among Commonwealth nations and discuss the theme, “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.” Shettima had set out from Abuja on behalf of President Bola Tinubu but had to turn back along with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. This is the second time the Vice President has had to cancel a trip mid-flight due to technical issues with his aircraft.