Shettima's US trip cancelled as presidential jet develops fault midair

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar will represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima was confirmed to represent the president at the event but will not due to a technical fault with his aircraft.

This was disclosed by Shettima’s spokesperson, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha on Monday, May 6.

“Vice President Kashim 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 Presidency revealed in a signed statement.

The statement is titled ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs To Now Represent President Tinubu at US-Africa Summit.’

The particular aircraft the VP boarded is not immediately known, however, there are indications that the plane is the Gulfstream V aircraft often used by the Vice President.

Shettima’s predecessor, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had used the same aircraft while in office (2015 – 2023).

Since the Buhari years, the Presidency had maintained 10 aircraft. They include Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-800 or NAF 001) which is reportedly under maintenance, one Gulfstream 550, one Gulfstream V (Gulfstream 500), two Falcons 7X, one Hawker Sidley 4000, two AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters and two AgustaWestland AW 101 helicopters, The Punch reports.

While the statement did not disclose the nature of the fault, Nkwocha said the Vice President has since returned to Abuja and “will carry on with other national duties.”