Vice President Shettima Aborts Samoa Trip Following Mid-Flight Incident, Ministerial Delegation Steps In

Vice President Kashim Shettima’s journey to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa was cut short after a foreign object struck his plane, damaging the cockpit windscreen during a layover at JFK Airport in New York.

President Bola Tinubu had designated Vice President Shettima to represent Nigeria at the summit, which commenced on October 21 on the Pacific island of Samoa and is set to conclude on October 26.

However, the incident forced Shettima to abort the trip for safety reasons, as confirmed in a statement issued late Thursday night, October 24, by Presidential spokesperson Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

Onanuga’s statement explained that President Tinubu promptly approved a ministerial delegation, headed by Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal, to stand in for Vice President Shettima at the summit in the capital city of Apia.

“President Tinubu has approved the deployment of a ministerial delegation to Samoa, which will continue Nigeria's representation at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,” the statement added.

Efforts to repair the aircraft have reportedly begun, though the Presidency has yet to confirm when the Vice President’s plane will be back in service.