Vice President Kashim Shettima will no longer represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Summit in Samoa as planned. The cancellation came after a foreign object hit his plane at JFK Airport in New York.
As a result, Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal will lead the Nigerian delegation to the event. President Bola Tinubu approved the decision for the ministerial representation while repairs are underway for Shettima’s plane.
The summit, focusing on resilience and leveraging the ‘Commonwealth Advantage,’ began on October 21 and will conclude on October 26. Member countries will also elect the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Shettima and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar have returned to Nigeria from New York after the incident. This is not the first time Shettima has withdrawn from a trip due to technical issues with his aircraft.
Despite the setback, Nigeria remains actively engaged in international affairs, with Shettima having visited various countries around the world in the past.