…I will resign if found wanting – Umahi
A heated exchange erupted on Wednesday during the joint budget defence session between the National Assembly Committees on Works and the Ministry of Works, as Peter Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) the Deputy Senate Whip, and Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central), Deputy Minority Whip, traded words.
The session, presided over by Hanga in his capacity as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, standing in for the indisposed Chairman, Mpigi Barinada (PDP, Rivers South-East) had progressed without incident while the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, presented the Ministry’s proposals and responded to questions from lawmakers.
The atmosphere shifted, however, when Nwaebonyi took the floor.
In remarks that largely commended the minister’s performance and urged colleagues in both Chambers to offer similar support, Nwaebonyi was interrupted by Hanga, who asked him to conclude his submission.
Visibly displeased, Nwaebonyi objected, “You cannot stop me from speaking after allowing Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) to talk for 15 solid minutes,” he said.
“Please don’t interrupt me because you allowed Senator Oshiomhole to spend not less than 15 minutes to make his remarks, 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 ranking presiding officer, I can take over proceedings of this session from you.”
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Hanga, angered by the response, rejected the suggestion that Nwaebonyi could assume control of the session and struck the gavel, directing him to yield the floor.
The confrontation escalated as Nwaebonyi questioned Hanga’s authority.
“I’m a ranking Senator of the ruling party that cannot be ruled against by a minority senator,” he said.
Hanga shot back, dismissing the insinuation and countering with a reference to their respective electoral mandates.
“The votes that brought me to the Senate in June 2023 were ten times higher than what you got from your Ebonyi North Senatorial District,” Hanga retorted.
The tense atmosphere was eventually diffused following interventions by senior lawmakers, including Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central), allowing the session to continue.
Earlier in the proceedings, Umahi had responded to concerns raised over the quality of work on the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road project, challenging lawmakers to conduct an on-the-spot inspection.
He declared that he would step down from office if found to have delivered substandard work.
“Go and inspect the project. If it is not up to standard, I will resign,” the minister said.
Umahi disclosed that out of the N3.245 trillion capital allocation proposed for the Ministry in the 2026 budget, N760 billion is earmarked for new projects across the six geopolitical zones.
He clarified that the new projects are separate from the four legacy road projects already underway, as well as the additional Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri road corridor.
The minister also assured lawmakers that the N7 trillion funding gap created by the withdrawal of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) from certain road projects would be financed through domestic bond issuance.
He maintained that the ministry remains committed to delivering durable and high-quality infrastructure nationwide.
