Report on FG’s Projects in Bende False, Misleading – Deputy Speaker’s Office

The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has dismissed a recent report by civic accountability organisation Tracka on Federal Government projects in Bende Federal Constituency, describing it as false, misleading and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the office said the “field tracking” report, published on July 15, 2026, misrepresented the status of several projects facilitated for the constituency. It noted that the report had been removed from Tracka’s Facebook page less than 24 hours after publication for reasons yet to be disclosed.

According to the statement, the report reflected a poor understanding of how Federal Government capital projects are implemented and wrongly portrayed completed or ongoing projects as abandoned.

The office specifically rejected claims that the 2-kilometre Amaeke–Isiegbu–Umuhu Ezechi Road had been abandoned since 2024, insisting that the road had been completed, commissioned and remains in daily use by residents, farmers, traders and students.

It also disputed allegations that garri processing centres at Ezeukwu and Umuhu Ezechi do not exist, explaining that the physical structures had been fully completed while the installation of processing equipment remains the responsibility of the relevant implementing Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA).

According to the statement, electricity has already been connected to the facilities, while the communities await the installation of equipment and official commissioning.

The Deputy Speaker’s office further dismissed claims that residents were unaware of the installation of 579 solar-powered streetlights across Igbere A, Igbere B and Ugwueke/Ezeukwu wards.

It maintained that the streetlights are fully installed and operational, providing improved security and supporting economic activities in the affected communities.

Questioning the credibility of the assessment, the office suggested that the investigators may not have visited the stated locations, arguing that the operational streetlights are visible and have become an integral part of community life.

The statement also clarified that the constitutional responsibility of a member of the National Assembly is to facilitate the attraction of Federal Government projects, perform oversight functions and make laws, rather than execute projects directly.

It stressed that implementation, procurement and commissioning remain the statutory responsibilities of the relevant MDAs and their contractors.

The office argued that Tracka’s recommendation for the Deputy Speaker to facilitate engagement with implementing agencies effectively acknowledged his role in attracting the projects to the constituency.

It therefore accused the organisation of attempting to undermine visible development in Bende through what it described as politically motivated allegations.

While reaffirming support for public accountability, the office invited the authors of the report to revisit the project locations and independently verify the status of the road, solar streetlights and agro-processing facilities.

It maintained that the projects are delivering tangible benefits to residents and urged public discourse on governance to be guided by verifiable facts rather than misinformation.

The statement concluded that the people of Bende are well placed to assess the impact of the projects in their communities and distinguish between genuine public service and what it described as politically driven narratives.