Tension flared on Wednesday during a budget defence session involving the Federal Ministry of Works as two lawmakers, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) and Senator Rufai Sani Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central), engaged in a heated exchange that briefly disrupted proceedings.
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The confrontation occurred while the ministry, led by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, appeared before lawmakers to present and defend its 2026 budget proposal.
In a video circulating online, Nwaebonyi was heard raising his voice at Hanga during proceedings. Hanga responded, “Don’t shout at me,” as the situation escalated.
Nwaebonyi then declared, “I can preside over this meeting,” a remark that drew a sharp response from Hanga, who said, “No, I am also a presiding officer.”
During the exchange, Hanga, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), accused Nwaebonyi of simply “bootlicking his boss” and lavishing praise on Minister David Umahi, prompting the South-East legislator to retaliate.
The two senators strongly disagreed over the amount of time each spent speaking at the forum.
Nwaebonyi is a key ally of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and serves as the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate.
Borno South Senator Ali Ndume was seen in the footage attempting to calm tensions, urging Hanga to remain composed because cameras were present.
Despite the intervention, Hanga fired back, asserting that he secured ten times more votes in his election than Nwaebonyi.
The disagreement briefly disrupted the session before order was restored and deliberations continued.
@thenigerialawyer“Don’t Shout At Me, I Got Ten Times More Votes Than You” — Senator Hanga — Clashes With Nwaebonyi During Works Budget Defence
This is not the first time that Senator Nwaebonyi has been involved in a shouting match. In March 2025, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which conducted a hearing on the petition brought by Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment.
Ezekwesili came in the company of Zubairu Yakubu, who signed the petition on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan and the senator’s legal counsel, Abiola Akiyode. Ezekwesili and the Ebonyi North Senator engaged in a heated verbal exchange during the hearing.
Meanwhile, Minister Umahi told lawmakers on Wednesday that the ministry’s 2026 capital plan focuses on finishing major roads and four “legacy” projects started by the presidency.
In a budget defence to the Senate and House Works committees, the minister said the 2026 capital proposal totals N3.24456 trillion and explained why many projects were carried over.
“When we came on board, we had to continue all the entire 2,064 projects,” he said, referring to projects inherited in 2023.
Umahi gave figures to show tight funding: only N210.318 billion of the 2025 capital releases was paid so far (about 9.7% of what was expected), and said contractors are owed about N2.2 trillion for work done.
“The total amount owed to contractors for works done and generated certificates between 2024 and 2025 is about N2.2 trillion,” he told the committees.
The minister stated that the government has re-scoped and prioritised projects because costs rose after fuel subsidy removal and the naira was floated.
He listed legacy schemes, including the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway and the Sokoto–Badagry corridor, and promised phased delivery, with some sections to be commissioned by May 29, 2026.
He asked legislators to note that the 2026 plan carries over about 70% of unfinished work from 2025 and that new phases will be funded in stages so projects can finish on time.
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