Vice President Kashim Shettima’s planned attendance at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM) in Samoa was abruptly canceled after his plane sustained damage during a stopover at New York’s JFK Airport. The incident occurred when a foreign object struck the cockpit windscreen of the Vice President’s aircraft, forcing a change in Nigeria’s representation at the Pacific summit.
In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, it was confirmed that President Bola Tinubu quickly approved an alternative plan, dispatching a ministerial delegation led by Environment Minister Balarabe Abass Lawal to represent Nigeria at the ongoing summit in Apia, the capital of Samoa.
The unexpected incident has altered the Nigerian delegation’s plans just as the CHOGM summit was underway, running from October 21 and set to conclude on October 26. The decision to redirect the representation highlights Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining its diplomatic presence at the summit despite the setback.
Vice President Shettima, along with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, departed New York to return to Nigeria while repair work commenced on the damaged aircraft. The VP’s trip was anticipated as a key diplomatic engagement, with discussions expected to cover climate action, trade, and international collaboration within the Commonwealth framework.
This last-minute change in Nigeria’s representation has drawn public attention, underscoring the unexpected challenges in global diplomacy and the importance of contingency planning. Meanwhile, the delegation headed by Minister Lawal is set to uphold Nigeria’s interests at the high-level meeting, with updates expected on key issues affecting Nigeria and the Commonwealth community.
