Nigeria, Feb. 19 -- The Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Barinada Mpigi, is dead.

Mr Mpigi passed away in the early hours of Thursday at the age of 64 after a prolonged illness.

His colleague at the Senate, Ogoshi Onawo, who represents Nasarawa South Senatorial District, confirmed the development during a committee meeting with the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.

The minister had appeared before the committee to defend her ministry's 2025 budgetary allocation.

At the commencement of the meeting, Mr Onawo, who chairs the committee, directed participants to observe a minute's silence in honour of the late lawmaker.

Until his death, Mr Mpigi served as the chairman of th...