Aircraft Malfunctioning Forces Shettima To Cancel US Trip
- Minister To Attend US-Africa Summit
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, will now represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 US-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 with his aircraft, forcing him to make a detour on the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet.
According to a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, on Monday, the Vice President will carry on with other national duties at home.
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 will feature 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.
Besides the summit plenary, the Foreign Minister is expected to speak at the Roundtable on African Infrastructure Investment with a focus on impact and returns.
He is also scheduled to speak on a high-level panel on agribusiness, focusing on transiting “from food insecurity to thriving agribusinesses”.
Additionally, Tuggar will speak at a plenary session on Navigating Africa’s Energy Future as well as chair a session dedicated to promoting the ‘invest in Nigeria’ initiative.
He is also expected to attend other meetings and engagements on the sideline of the summit, the statement read.
Tuggar is expected back in the country at the end of his engagements in the US.
Vice President Shettima had left Abuja earlier on Sunday for the United States for the summit.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
