In July 1999 the Senate cleared the appointment by President Olusegun Obasanjo of Shata as Minister of National Planning.
[1] As Minister of State for Internal Affairs, in September 2000 Shata said that one-third of the 44,000 people awaiting trial in Nigeria were in jail.
[3] In November 2001 Shata said the government was planning to issue special identity cards to foreigners living in the country to improve security due to the 11 September attacks in the US.
[4] As Minister of Internal Affairs, in January 2003 Shata blamed "mischief makers" for a report that immigration service officers were planning to go on strike.
[5] The same month, he said preparations for the launch of the national identity card system on 18 February were going on smoothly, with 10 billion naira in funding to pay subcontractors.