Senate Mourns As Rivers Senator Barinada Mpigi Dies At 64

The Nigeria Senate was thrown into mourning on Thursday following the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District and chaired the Senate Committee on Works.

A National Assembly source confirmed that Mpigi passed away at the age of 64 after a brief illness.

Until his death, he served in the 10th National Assembly, overseeing the influential Committee on Works, which is responsible for federal road infrastructure and related projects nationwide.

Mpigi began his legislative career in the House of Representatives, first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2016. He later moved to the Senate in 2019, winning the Rivers South-East senatorial seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

During the 9th Assembly, he chaired a joint Senate committee tasked with investigating crude oil theft in the Niger Delta — a critical assignment at a time of declining oil revenues and widespread pipeline vandalism.

News of his passing filtered into the Senate chamber during budget defence sessions, casting a sombre mood over lawmakers.

Senator Mohammed Onawo of Nasarawa South paid tribute to the late senator during the session of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, urging colleagues to honour his memory. Lawmakers observed a minute’s silence in his honour.

“May his gentle soul rest in peace,” Ogoshi said.

Tributes also poured in from the House of Representatives. The Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, tweeted: “Good night, my dear friend. Rest in Peace, Senator Mpigi Barinada. Sen Mpigi represented Rivers South-East in the Senate.”

Mpigi’s death comes barely three months after the passing of Senator Okey Ezea of Enugu North, highlighting the string of losses the Senate has faced in the current Assembly.

With his passing, the Senate has once again been confronted with the loss of a serving member, prompting renewed reflection on the contributions and legacy of its lawmakers.