Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he will represent President Bola Tinubu at the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Shettima touched down at the Waterkloof Air Force Base and was received by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, as well as Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires to South Africa, Ambassador Muhammad Gana Yisa, among other officials.
President Tinubu had been scheduled to attend the summit on Wednesday, November 19, at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, he cancelled the trip to receive security briefings following the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima will engage world leaders and development partners on issues including the economy, security, climate change, and development financing. He will also hold bilateral meetings in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, with discussions expected to touch on regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development.
The G20 Summit, scheduled for November 22–23 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, will bring together leaders of the world’s major economies, alongside representatives of the European Union, the African Union, and key international financial institutions.
Themed “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” the two-day summit will focus on global economic stability, development financing, debt relief, climate action, and equitable food systems.
Vice President Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of his engagements.
