Shettima cancels Samoa trip mid-way as 'foreign object' hits his plane and damages cockpit windscreen

Vice President Kashim Shettima has aborted his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Summit in Samoa.

President Tinubu had delegated Shettima to represent the country at the ongoing event.

The trip was cancelled after a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York, the Presidency revealed in a statement Thursday night, October 24.

The statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, is titled ‘Cockpit windscreen of VP Shettima’s plane damaged at JFK airport, ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at Samoa Commonwealth summit'.

“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,” Onanuga stated. 

“The foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of the plane

“President Tinubu, acting promptly, has approved a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit in the Samoa capital of Apia while the plane’s repair has commenced.

"The delegation, which will now represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting in Samoa, is being led by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal.

The summit began on the Pacific island on October 21 and ends on October 26.