Photo: Late Senator Barinada Mpigi
Nigeria’s Senate has been thrown into mourning following the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 64.
Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works until his death. He was a member of both the Ninth and Tenth Senates and remained in office in the current assembly before his demise.
Mpigi was reported dead earlier in the day in London at the age of 64. Family sources confirmed that the lawmaker died after a brief illness. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the news as shocking.
“We are shocked by this news. I am short of words. I don’t know what to say. We are in pain,” the source said.
There were also unverified claims that the senator had been flown abroad for brain surgery after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, though this could not be independently confirmed.
Born on June 23, 1961, Mpigi began his legislative career in 2011 when he was elected into the House of Representatives, representing the Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency. He was re-elected for a second term before securing a seat in the Senate in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
During the Ninth National Assembly, he chaired a joint Senate committee set up to investigate crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, a critical issue in Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, he oversaw legislative matters relating to federal infrastructure projects across the country.
Mpigi, a native of Tai Local Government Area in the Ogoni ethnic nationality of Rivers State, was regarded as an experienced legislator and influential voice on development and resource management issues. He was also known to be a strong ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
His death marks a significant loss to Rivers State and the National Assembly.
