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

The death of the lawmaker cast a sombre mood over proceedings at the National Assembly, particularly during budget defence sessions, as senators received the news of his passing during plenary activities.

Speaking during a session of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, the lawmaker representing Nasarawa South, Senator Mohammed Onawo, paid glowing tribute to the late Rivers senator and urged his colleagues to honour his memory, describing Mpigi as a dedicated legislator whose contributions to national development would not be forgotten.

Following the tribute, senators were asked to observe a minute’s silence in honour of the deceased lawmaker.

A source disclosed that Senator Mpigi died on Thursday at the age of 64 after a brief illness.

Until his death, Mpigi represented Rivers South-East in the 10th National Assembly and chaired the influential Senate Committee on Works, which oversees federal road infrastructure and related projects across the country.

He began his legislative career in the House of Representatives, where he was first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2016. He later moved to the Senate in 2019 after winning the Rivers South-East seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

During the 9th National Assembly, Mpigi was appointed chairman of a joint Senate committee set up to investigate crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region, a critical assignment at a time when the country grappled with declining oil revenues and widespread pipeline vandalism.

News of his death filtered across Rivers State and into the Senate chamber early Thursday, throwing the political class into mourning and leaving lawmakers visibly shaken by the loss of one of their colleagues.

Tributes also poured in from the House of Representatives, where members described the late senator as a committed legislator and patriot.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, paid tribute to Mpigi on his official X handle.

“Good night, my dear friend. Rest in peace, Senator Mpigi Barinada. Sen. Mpigi represented Rivers South-East in the Senate,” Alabi wrote.

The National Assembly is expected to formally announce mourning activities and other legislative honours in memory of the late senator, whose death has created a significant void in Rivers State politics and the nation’s legislative landscape.