The senator representing Ebonyi north, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, and Rufai Hanga, senator representing Kano central, were locked in a fiery confrontation on Wednesday at a joint budget defence session of the senate and house of representatives’ committees on works with the ministry of works.
The meeting, presided over by Hanga as vice-chairman in the absence of committee chairman Mpigi Barinada, had initially progressed without incident, featuring presentations from David Umahi, minister of works, and inputs from lawmakers.
Tension arose when Nwebonyi, who was largely commending the minister and encouraging fellow lawmakers to do likewise, was asked by Hanga to conclude his remarks.
Visibly displeased, Nwebonyi responded, “You cannot stop me from speaking after allowing Senator Adams Oshiomhole to talk for 15 solid minutes.”
“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,” he added.
“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.”
Hanga, who serves as the senate deputy minority whip, rejected the claim and struck the gavel, instructing Nwebonyi to yield the floor.
The disagreement intensified when Nwebonyi declared, “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.”
In reply, Hanga argued that the votes that earned him a seat in the senate were “10 times higher” than those secured by Nwebonyi in Ebonyi north.
He further accused Nwebonyi of “bootlicking his boss”, apparently referencing his political alignment with the minister, as both hail from Ebonyi state.
Calm was eventually restored after the intervention of Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, and Akin Alabi, chairman of the house committee on works.
Earlier in the session, Umahi had invited lawmakers to carry out an on-the-spot inspection of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road amid claims of substandard work.
“I will resign if it is found not up to standard,” the minister stated.
Umahi also revealed that of the N3.245 trillion capital allocation proposed for the ministry in the 2026 budget, N760 billion has been set aside for new projects across the six geopolitical zones.
He clarified that these projects are separate from the four legacy projects and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri road.
The minister further assured lawmakers that the N7 trillion needed to complete road projects previously withdrawn by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited would be raised through the domestic bond market.