Umahi Clashes With Lawmakers As Chaos Rocks N3.4tn 2026 Works Finances Defence

Tempers flared on the Nationwide Meeting on Wednesday as Minister of Works Dave Umahi defended his ministry’s proposed N3.4 trillion 2026 price range earlier than a Joint Committee, with proceedings descending into chaos following sharp exchanges between lawmakers.

The session turned heated when Senator Adams Oshiomhole confronted the minister over the controversial reassignment of the Abuja Kaduna Street challenge from building big Julius Berger to lesser recognized agency, MAIKANO.

Lawmakers questioned the transparency and capability behind the choice, sparking a tense forwards and backwards that disrupted the listening to. In response, Umahi threw down a problem to members of the Nationwide Meeting, urging them to personally examine the challenge.

The minister vowed to resign if the highway challenge is discovered to be substandard, insisting the reassignment adopted due course of and was within the public curiosity.

Drama escalated additional when Senator Onyekachi Nwoebonyi clashed brazenly with Committee Chairman Rufai Hanga after being stopped halfway by his submission. The disagreement rapidly degenerated right into a shouting match, forcing makes an attempt to revive order as voices rose throughout the chamber.

Past the confrontation over contracts, Umahi disclosed troubling funding constraints dealing with the ministry. He revealed that solely 9 per cent of the ministry’s 2025 capital price range has thus far been launched, elevating considerations concerning the tempo of ongoing infrastructure initiatives nationwide.

The minister additionally instructed lawmakers that the Federal Authorities at the moment owes contractors over N2.2 trillion, a backlog he stated continues to hamper challenge supply and completion timelines.

In accordance with him, the federal government requires about N7 trillion to fund inherited initiatives and people executed underneath tax credit score preparations, underscoring the size {of financial} commitments confronting the Works Ministry.

The chaotic session highlights mounting tensions between the manager and legislature over infrastructure spending, contract transparency and funding shortfalls, because the Nationwide Meeting scrutinises the proposed N3.4 trillion allocation for 2026.

Faridah Abdulkadiri 

Times Nigeria