Vice President Kashim Shettima has canceled his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM) in Samoa due to an incident involving his plane at JFK Airport in New York.
The presidency revealed in a statement on October 24, 2024, that a foreign object struck the vice president’s aircraft during a stopover, leading to the decision to abort the trip.
President Bola Tinubu had initially delegated Shettima to represent Nigeria at the summit. The nature of the object or the extent of the impact on the aircraft remains unspecified, though the statement noted the cancellation was a precautionary measure. The CHOGM, scheduled to take place in Apia, Samoa, brings together leaders from Commonwealth countries to discuss global challenges and cooperation.
The statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, is titled ‘Cockpit windscreen of VP Shettima’s plane damaged at JFK airport, ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at Samoa Commonwealth summit’.
“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,” Onanuga stated.
“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 delegation, which will now represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting in Samoa, is being led by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal.
The summit began on the Pacific island on October 21 and ends on October 26.
