Vice President Kashim Shettima’s planned attendance at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa was canceled due to damage to his aircraft’s windshield in New York. President Tinubu appointed a delegation led by Environment Minister Balarabe Abass Lawal to represent Nigeria at the summit.
Vice President Kashim Shettima’s scheduled attendance at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa was canceled due to damage to his aircraft’s windshield. The incident occurred at New York’s JFK International Airport when a foreign object struck the cockpit, according to Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy.
In response, President Tinubu promptly appointed a ministerial delegation, led by Environment Minister Balarabe Abass Lawal, to represent Nigeria at the summit in Apia, Samoa. Shettima, along with Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, returned to Nigeria following the event’s cancellation.
The CHOGM 2024 summit, themed “Resilience, Unlocking Potential, and Fostering a Connected, Digital Commonwealth,” brought together leaders to discuss development issues, including resilience and digital connectivity. Shettima was initially expected to participate in the People’s Forum, engage with international leaders, and attend various executive sessions.
Despite the setback, Nigeria remains represented at the summit, which began on October 21 and is set to conclude on October 26.
