Stella Oduah Shuns Hand Over, Aviation Ministry Is Put On A Halt

The Aviation Ministry cannot resume normal activities, as the embattled former minister Mrs. Stella Oduah has once again shunned handover to the supervising minister, Mr. Samuel Ortom, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment.

On February 14, 2014, Friday, a new permanent Secretary, Dr Mrs Jamilla Shu'ara, took over from the immediate past Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr George Ossi.

When it was the turn of Stella Oduah to hand over to the new supervising minister, journalists were told to return in the evening as ‘madam’ could not make it and no reason was given for her absence.

Therefore, the journalists were asked to return on February 17, 2014, Monday, at 3.30 p.m. Monday, as the ex-minister still was unable to attend that Friday evening.

Then it was postponed till 4.30 p.m., Monday.

After waiting for the former minister for hours on Monday, it became obvious that the handing over ceremony had been shifted again due to Oduah’s absence. Her spokesman, Joe Obi, did not return calls put to his phone

Meanwhile, activities at the ministry remain aground despite the presence of a new permanent Secretary.

“For now we don't have a minister, since no hand over yet. For our permanent Secretary, you know she is new here. She just took over last week.

“Even though she is not new to the permanent secretary job, this is aviation ministry where a lot has happened in the last 10 months.

“So, don’t expect much activities now, please” a source of Daily Trust added.

A reporter of Daily Trust visited the offices of Ministry of Aviation on February 17, 2014, Monday. Activities in entire ministry are more skeletal, as visitors troop in and out unattended to.

The reporter disguised as a visitor with appointment with one of the directors, but in fact nothing has been happening in the Ministry.

Despite insisting on waiting till the director returned, officials in the office never attended to him or any of the visitors who later got infuriated and left.

Before 3 p.m., Monday, most of the key offices in the ministry had been deserted, as no form of checks or supervision now take place. This situation has been attributed to the administrative changes that are going on in the ministry. 

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