Vice President Kashim Shettima has aborted his planned trip to the United States of America to attend the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas.

Shettima was billed to represent Tinubu at the summit as the president is yet to return to the country after his last official trip to Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Monday evening by his spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar will now represent President Tinubu at the summit in Dallas, Texas.

Nkwocha disclosed that 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.”

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.