Shettima’s trip to Samoa cancelled due to plane damage

Due to damage to his aircraft during a layover at JFK Airport in New York, Vice President Kashim Shettima's journey to Samoa for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit has been cancelled. 

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made this revelation in a statement on Thursday evening. 

President Bola Tinubu had to quickly approve a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit after a foreign object hit the aircraft and damaged the cockpit windscreen.

Nigeria will be represented at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, the capital of Samoa, by a delegation headed by Environment Minister Balarabe Abass Lawal.

The summit will end on October 26 after starting on October 21. 

While repairs on the damaged jet begin, Vice President Shettima and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar have left New York for Nigeria.

“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. 

While the jet is being repaired, President Tinubu has swiftly authorised a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit in Apia, the capital of Samoa.

Source