Vice President Kashim Shettima has aborted his official visit to the United States where he was scheduled to represent President Bola Tinubu at this year’s U.S-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas.
He was scheduled to have left Abuja on Sunday evening.
The change of plans followed a technical fault in his aircraft, forcing him to make a detour.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, confirmed the development.
“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, will now represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2024 U.S-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas.
“Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was originally scheduled to represent the President, was unable to make the trip following a technical fault in his aircraft, forcing him to make a detour on the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet.
“The Vice President will carry on with other national duties.
“The high-profile summit, taking place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Centre, 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 U.S-Africa Business Summit aims to foster economic cooperation and explore investment opportunities between the United States and African countries”, the statement said.
