What was meant to be a routine budget defence session at the National Assembly descended into chaos on Wednesday, February 11, as Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) engaged in a fiery verbal showdown. The heated exchange, which quickly went viral, highlighted deep tensions over funding transparency, project execution, and accountability in Nigeria’s multi-trillion naira infrastructure drive.
The drama unfolded during a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works, where Umahi presented the Ministry’s proposed ₦3.4 trillion budget for 2026, with ₦3.245 trillion earmarked for capital expenditure on federal roads and highways. Of this, ₦760 billion is allocated for new projects across the six geopolitical zones, while the rest targets completion of legacy projects inherited from previous administrations – a portfolio Umahi described as over 2,000 projects valued at ₦13 trillion, with contractors owed more than ₦2.2 trillion.
Oshiomhole’s Probing Questions Spark Fireworks
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The sparks flew when Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor and ex-APC National Chairman, grilled Umahi on the ₦15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway – a flagship project spanning nine states and touted as a game-changer for coastal trade and connectivity. Oshiomhole demanded clarity on funding sources, particularly after the termination of private sector arrangements like the tax credit scheme and the National Monetisation Programme (NMP). He also referenced Umahi’s earlier claims that the Ministry of Finance had withheld funds, allegedly without President Bola Tinubu’s full knowledge.
“You are not entitled to interrupt me… Mind your language. You were in this Senate for how long? Two months,” Oshiomhole fired back at one point, alluding to Umahi’s brief stint as a senator before his ministerial appointment in 2023.
Umahi, visibly agitated, shot back: “Sir, are you judging or asking me questions? … You can’t use foul language on me. I’m a distinguished Nigerian.”
The exchange drew laughter and interventions from other senators, with some siding with Oshiomhole and urging the minister to stay calm. Order was eventually restored by senior lawmakers, including Senators Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central).
Umahi’s Bold Vow Amid Substandard Work Allegations
Adding to the tension, Oshiomhole and other lawmakers raised alarms over the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano (AKK) Road, a critical northern corridor. They alleged substandard workmanship after the contract was reportedly yanked from construction giant Julius Berger and reassigned to Maikano (linked to the Mikano Group, better known for generators than mega-highways).
Umahi dismissed the claims outright and threw down the gauntlet: “I invite the committee members to go for an on-the-spot assessment of the project. If it is found not to be up to standard, I will throw in the towel.” He insisted work on the road would resume imminently and expressed full confidence in the contractor’s delivery.
Parallel Clashes and Rowdy Proceedings
The session wasn’t just a two-man affair. It turned even rowdier when Deputy Senate Whip, Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) – who had been praising Umahi’s efforts – clashed with Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) over speaking time. Nwaebonyi protested after Hanga tried to cut him short, noting that Oshiomhole had spoken uninterrupted for over 15 minutes.
“You cannot stop me from speaking after allowing Senator Adams Oshiomhole to talk for 15 solid minutes,” Nwaebonyi thundered, leading to shouts and near-walkouts. Some lawmakers reportedly stormed out in frustration before calm was restored.
Context: Funding Battles and Infrastructure Push
The clashes come amid broader concerns over road funding in Nigeria. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which has secured international loans including $747 million for Phase 1 Section 1 and $1.126 billion for Section 2, was previously partly funded via tax credits from private entities like the Dangote Group and NNPCL. Umahi defended the shift to alternative financing models as a “positive move” for transparency, while blaming delays on unreleased allocations from the Finance Ministry.
Oshiomhole, ironically, had earlier commended President Tinubu for ditching the opaque NNPCL tax credit model, calling it “very difficult to monitor.”
What This Means for Nigeria
As the 2026 budget process heats up, yesterday’s drama at the Senate underscores the high stakes in Nigeria’s infrastructure revolution. With only 9% of the 2025 capital allocation released so far, contractors are groaning under debts, and key projects risk stalling.
Umahi, a former Ebonyi governor known for his “legacy projects” mantra, has positioned himself as a no-nonsense deliverer. But the questions from Oshiomhole – a veteran of tough political battles – signal that lawmakers are in no mood for business as usual.
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