Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, had to cancel his trip to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Nairobi, Kenya, after his aircraft was struck by foreign objects during takeoff.
The incident occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, leading to damage that rendered the aircraft unfit for flight. Shettima had been scheduled to join other leaders at the summit, which focuses on global issues, including economic growth and development.
Following the incident, Shettima expressed his disappointment but emphasized the importance of safety in air travel. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is expected to take place.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has had to cancel his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM) following an incident in which a foreign object struck his aircraft during a scheduled stopover at JFK Airport in New York. The impact caused significant damage to the cockpit windscreen.
Presidential Media Aide Bayo Onanuga confirmed the situation, explaining that the damage necessitated repairs, and the exact nature of the foreign object remains unknown. As a result, Shettima’s planned representation of Nigeria at the summit, which runs from October 21 to 26 in Apia, Samoa, has been called off.
In response, President Bola Tinubu quickly approved a ministerial delegation, led by Minister of Environment Balarabe Abass Lawal, to fulfill Nigeria’s diplomatic obligations at the summit. Both Vice President Shettima and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar have since returned to Nigeria.
The CHOGM meeting gathers heads of state and representatives from across the Commonwealth to discuss global issues, and Nigeria’s involvement is seen as crucial amid high-level discussions. The swift deployment of the ministerial delegation reflects Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining its international diplomatic presence despite the unforeseen circumstances.
