Deputy Speaker’s Office Faults Tracka’s Assessment Of Bende Projects

The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu, has dismissed a report by a civic organisation , Tracka , alleging poor execution of Federal Government projects in Bende Federal Constituency, describing the findings as false, misleading and politically motivated.

In a statement by the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the office said the report, published on July 15 and later removed from Tracka’s Facebook page, misrepresented the status of several projects in the constituency.

The office said the report wrongly described the 2km Amaeke–Isiegbu–Umuhu Ezechi Road as abandoned, insisting that the road had been completed, commissioned and is currently in use by residents.

It also refuted claims that garri processing centres in Ezeukwu and Umuhu Ezechi do not exist, explaining that the physical structures had been completed while installation of processing equipment remains the responsibility of the relevant implementing Ministry, Department or Agencies, MDAs.

On allegations that 579 solar streetlights across Igbere A, Igbere B and Ugwueke/Ezeukwu wards could not be located, the office maintained that the facilities had been installed and were operational, contributing to improved security and economic activities in the communities.

The Deputy Speaker’s office stressed that lawmakers facilitate the attraction of federal projects but are not responsible for their execution, which falls under the statutory duties of implementing MDAs and contractors.

It urged Tracka to revisit the project sites to verify the status of the projects, insisting that the claim that public funds were disbursed without corresponding development was not supported by facts on the ground.

The statement reaffirmed Kalu’s commitment to attracting development projects to Bende and called for accountability to be pursued through accurate and objective reporting.

PR/Oduyemi Odumade