Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu
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A civic accountability organisation, Tracka, has called on the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, to provide clarification to constituents over five Federal Government-funded projects valued at more than ₦1.4 billion in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, which it alleges remain uncompleted despite contractors receiving payment.
The demand is contained in a field verification report released by the organisation in June 2026 and published on its verified Facebook page, where Tracka claimed that records indicate contractors handling the projects were paid between September and December 2025, but physical inspections across Bende Local Government Area revealed little or no evidence of project delivery.
According to the report, the projects include the construction of two Hybrid Automated Cassava Processing Centres in Ezeukwu and Umuhu Ezechi communities, a 2-kilometre Amaeke–Umuhu Ezechi Road, and the installation of 579 solar-powered streetlights across Igbere A, Igbere B, and Ugwueke/Ezeukwu wards.
Tracka stated that community members interviewed during the monitoring exercise said they had no knowledge of the cassava processing centres or the solar streetlight projects. The organisation further noted that the Amaeke–Umuhu Ezechi Road appeared abandoned, with work reportedly halted since 2024.
The civic group maintained that the projects were conceived to stimulate local economic activities, enhance security, and improve the livelihoods of residents, stressing that communities should not continue to wait for infrastructure after public funds have reportedly been released.
Consequently, Tracka urged the Deputy Speaker, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, to leverage his office to facilitate engagement with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the contractors responsible for the projects.
The organisation also appealed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts to investigate the projects, establish their implementation status, and ensure accountability for the funds disbursed.
However, the Office of the Deputy Speaker has consistently maintained that members of the National Assembly are not responsible for executing constituency projects. Responding to previous reports by Tracka on other projects in Bende within the last 60 days, the office explained that lawmakers only facilitate the inclusion of projects in the national budget, while implementation rests entirely with executive agencies and contractors.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Speaker’s Special Assistant on Press Affairs, Udora Orizu, the office said the legislature neither serves as the procuring agency nor supervises project execution. It also described some of Tracka’s previous reports as “misleading and politically motivated,” while urging the relevant procuring agencies to investigate contractors where necessary and ensure value for public funds.
The Deputy Speaker’s office has also highlighted several development initiatives credited to his representation, including the restoration of electricity to communities after 23 years, the commissioning of a 1,000KVA solar farm, a ₦1 billion Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) support programme benefiting about 2,000 businesses, the sponsorship of 127 bills, and the execution of more than 50 constituency projects across the 13 wards of Bende Federal Constituency.
With Tracka’s latest allegations, attention is expected to focus on the relevant implementing MDAs, anti-corruption agencies, and the House Committee on Public Accounts to determine the actual status of the projects, verify the utilisation of the reported ₦1.4 billion allocation, and establish the responsibilities of the contractors involved.
Residents of Ezeukwu, Umuhu Ezechi, Igbere and Ugwueke communities say they are awaiting official clarification on the projects.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain a direct response from the Office of the Deputy Speaker regarding Tracka’s June 2026 findings were still ongoing.
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