Faulty aircraft hinders Nigeria’s VP, Shettima, from attending 2024 US-Africa Business Summit

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has aborted his travel to the United States to attend the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas.

Shettima who was originally scheduled to represent the President was unable to make the trip “following a technical fault with his aircraft, forcing him to make a detour on the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet.”

According to Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications in a statement on Monday, the VP has taken a detour and returned to Nigeria.

NewsWireNGR reports this is coming hours after former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, raised concerns over the absence of the president and the vice president, from the country at the same time.

Atiku said; “It is unprecedented that the two leaders will be absent from the country at the same time, especially now that the nation is faced with daunting challenges. The question that readily comes to mind is who is in charge of government at this point, or is it right to assume that we are on autopilot?”

Meanwhile, Stanley noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, will now represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Summit in Dallas, Texas.

He also added that the Vice President will carry on with other national duties.

Part of the statement also said: “The high-profile summit, taking place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, will bring together political and business leaders from across Africa, the United States, and other regions. It features high-level dialogues, networking sessions, and plenaries.”

Among the African heads of state expected are President Joseph Boakai of Liberia, President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, President Joao Lourenço of Angola, President Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi of Botswana, President José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde, and Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara of Lesotho.

The US-Africa Business Summit aims to foster economic cooperation and explore investment opportunities between the United States and African countries.