‘Don’t Use Foul Language on Me,’ Umahi Tells Oshiomhole as Budget Hearing Turns Heated

ByEditor

Feb 11, 2026 #Adams Oshiomhole, #contractor debt N2.2 trillion, #David Umahi, #Distinguished Nigerian quote, #N3.24 trillion capital allocation, #National Assembly budget hearing, #Nigeria infrastructure projects, #Works Ministry 2026 budget

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Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole clashed during a charged budget defence session at the National Assembly, with the minister firmly rebuking the lawmaker in a moment that has since gone viral.

“Don’t use foul language on me. I’m a distinguished Nigerian,” Umahi said during the exchange, captured in a trending video seen by Newsmakerslive.org.

The confrontation occurred as Umahi appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works to defend the ministry’s proposed N3.24 trillion capital allocation for 2026.

Lawmakers pressed the minister over project execution, funding gaps and mounting contractor liabilities.

Umahi disclosed that the federal government currently owes contractors approximately N2.2 trillion for certified works, a backlog he said continues to slow infrastructure delivery nationwide.

He told the committees that the ministry inherited more than 2,000 ongoing road projects, many of which require sustained funding to prevent abandonment.

Key projects under scrutiny include the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, and the critical Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano corridor.

Tensions rose as lawmakers questioned prioritisation, cash releases and oversight, with several senators speaking forcefully during the session. At various points, proceedings became disorderly before calm was restored and deliberations continued.

The heated exchange underscores the broader fiscal pressures surrounding Nigeria’s infrastructure ambitions. While the federal government has outlined expansive road development plans, actual budget releases have lagged behind appropriations, intensifying scrutiny from legislators.

Despite the friction, Umahi maintained that infrastructure investment remains central to economic growth, national integration and security, insisting that the ministry’s proposals reflect strategic national priorities.

The Works Ministry’s budget will now proceed through further legislative consideration as part of the 2026 federal appropriation process.