The Federal Ministry of Aviation was deserted for hours on Thursday during the period when the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation probed the minister, Stella Odauh, on the N255m bulletproof cars allegedly purchased for her by some agencies under her ministry.
Our correspondent, who visited the ministry around 10am on Thursday, observed that most offices on the fourth floor of the Federal Secretariat building where the ministry is housed were shut.
The walkway linking most of the rooms in the ministry was completely deserted, while the only security/front desk personnel at the main entry point claimed not to know why the building was virtually empty.
When our correspondent requested to see the special assistant to the minister on media, the security personnel said the SA was not available for comment.
Asked when he would return to office, the security officer responded abruptly, “I don’t know! Leave me alone journalist.”
Workers at the ministry of aviation, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria seem to have resolved not to speak to journalists.
It was gathered that there had been tension in the ministry since the Director-General, NCAA, Mr. Fola Akinkuotu, declared that the government would unmask the persons that leaked the information on the car purchase.
The spokesperson for the aviation agencies in the ministry, Mr. Yakubu Dati, had told our correspondent that what the NCAA boss said as regards plans to investigate the source of the leak was real.
Dati, however, stated that threats of mass sacking in the NCAA or the ministry were rumours.
He said, “I cannot respond to rumours and I don’t react to speculations. If there is anything that needs to be said, it has been said by the DG, NCAA.”
The DG, while explaining why the agency bought the vehicles during a press briefing in Abuja, had said, “I am not saying this particular information should not be put in the public domain; but how it was obtained is the concern. If somebody breaks into an office and makes copies of official documents, then the break-in has become criminal.”
Akinkuotu said he was stunned to see the documents in the open, stressing that the information was leaked illegally.
On that same Thursday that workers deserted the ministry, some pro-Oduah protesters gathered at the secretariat chanting solidarity songs in favour of the embattled minister.
The protesters, numbering about 30 women and a few men, maintained that the minister committed no offence.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the National Coordinator, Grass Roots Movement for Unity and Stability – a rights group, Mr. Edisemi Yiki, said, “We are concerned that certain persons have constituted themselves into a cabal with the sole aim of undermining and rubbishing the development effort of the aviation minister.
“But what they fail to understand is that the minister has done well and must be allowed to continue the good work we see at our airports.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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