6th May, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Vice President Kashim Shettima’s trip to the United States to represent President Bola Tinubu at the US-Africa Summit has been aborted after his aircraft developed technical fault.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President), in a statement said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, would now represent Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas.
He said 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.
“The Vice President will carry on with other national duties,” he said.
Nkwocha added that the high-profile summit, taking place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, would bring together political and business leaders from across Africa, the United States, and other regions and would 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,” he said.