Vice President Kashim Shettima has cancelled his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa due to unforeseen circumstances.

President Bola Tinubu had designated Shettima to represent Nigeria at the summit. However, according to a presidency statement, Shettima’s plane suffered damage during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.

A foreign object hit the plane, damaging the cockpit windscreen, prompting the cancellation.

In response, President Tinubu swiftly approved a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit. The delegation, led by Environment Minister Balarabe Abass Lawal, will attend the summit in Apia, Samoa.

The summit, running from October 21-26, aims to address global challenges and elect the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Shettima and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar have returned to Nigeria from New York.