A heated exchange between two senators briefly disrupted a joint budget defence session of the Senate and House Committees on Works on Wednesday.
The session was convened to review the 2026 proposals of the Ministry of Works, presented by Minister David Umahi.
The disagreement involved Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North and Senator Rufai Hanga of Kano Central, who presided as vice‑chairman in the absence of committee chairman Mpigi Barinada.
Proceedings had initially progressed smoothly, with Umahi presenting details of the ministry’s budget and responding to lawmakers’ questions.
Tension arose when Nwaebonyi took the floor to commend the minister and urged colleagues to acknowledge his efforts.
Midway through his remarks, Hanga cautioned him to conclude. Nwaebonyi protested, saying: “You cannot stop me from speaking after allowing Senator Adams Oshiomhole to talk for 15 solid minutes.”
He added: “Please don’t interrupt me because you allowed Senator Oshiomhole to spend not less than 15 minutes to make his remarks and observations and ask questions without any interruption. I’ve barely spent about five minutes, and you are telling me to round up. I won’t, and for your information, as the ranking presiding officer, I can take over the proceedings of this session from you. That is the protocol.”
Escalation and Intervention
Hanga rejected the assertion, insisting Nwaebonyi had no authority to assume control. He struck the gavel and directed him to stop speaking.
The Ebonyi senator responded: “I’m a ranking senator of the ruling party that cannot be ruled against by a minority senator. You cannot tell me what to say.”
CHAOS ERUPTS AS UMAHI DEFENDS N3.4 TRILLION 2026 BUDGET
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) February 11, 2026
Tempers flared at the National Assembly as Works Minister Dave Umahi defended his ministry’s proposed N3.4 trillion 2026 budget before a Joint Committee.
The session turned chaotic following a heated exchange between… pic.twitter.com/c0iH8NeSMe
Hanga countered that his votes were “10 times higher” than those secured by Nwaebonyi in Ebonyi North.
He also accused his colleague of “bootlicking his boss,” referring to Nwaebonyi’s support for Umahi, who is also from Ebonyi State.
Order was eventually restored after intervention by Senators Ali Ndume, Adamu Aliero, and Akin Alabi, chairman of the House Committee on Works. The session then continued.
Umahi’s Budget Defence
Earlier, Umahi urged lawmakers to inspect the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road amid allegations of substandard work. “I will resign if it is found not up to standard,” he declared.
He disclosed that of the ₦3.245 trillion capital allocation proposed for the ministry in the 2026 budget, ₦760 billion is earmarked for new projects across the six geopolitical zones.
These are separate from the four legacy projects and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri road.
Umahi also assured lawmakers that the ₦7 trillion required to complete road projects earlier withdrawn by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) would be raised through the domestic bond market.
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