Nigeria is mourning the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represented Rivers South East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
The 64-year-old lawmaker died on Thursday. Born on 23 June 1961, he had spent more than a decade in Nigeria’s federal legislature, serving in both chambers of the National Assembly.
Senator Mpigi was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and returned for a second term in 2016. In 2019, he won election to the Senate under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he represented Rivers South East.
During the Ninth Assembly, he chaired the Senate Committee on Works. He was also appointed to lead a joint Senate committee established to investigate crude oil theft in the Niger Delta – a longstanding issue with significant implications for Nigeria’s economy.
Tributes have continued to pour in following news of his death.
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the senator’s passing, describing him as a brother and a consummate politician whose contributions to the state would not be forgotten.
In a statement, Governor Fubara said the death came at a critical time when the senator’s experience and services were still needed. He described Mr Mpigi as one of the leading figures in Rivers State’s political landscape.
The governor extended his condolences to the late lawmaker’s family, the people of Rivers South East Senatorial District and members of the Senate, urging them to take comfort in what he called a life of impact and service.
