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The ongoing call for an independent media verification of projects reportedly attracted by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, continues to draw the attention of several interest groups, including journalists, town unions, religious leaders and politicians.
On Saturday, October 25, 2025, a team of journalists including Southeastposts reporter, embarked on a field verification of some of the projects listed by Kalu’s media office as completed or ongoing. The visit focused on confirming the state of work on the Umuahia–Bende–Arochukwu Road, which the Deputy Speaker had claimed was under reconstruction.
Regrettably, the reporters, who travelled from Umuahia through Ozu Abam to Arochukwu, did not find any trace of construction activity along the route. Instead, they observed several failed portions of the road, which have become a major source of concern for motorists and residents.
A commercial driver, John Orji, who plies the route, expressed frustration over the deplorable condition of the road, saying it has made transportation increasingly difficult.
“You can see there is no work going on anywhere. The road is very bad and it’s affecting us drivers. You can’t drive for two minutes without meeting a bad spot. This road damages our vehicles every time, yet we’re being accused of charging high fares,” Orji said.
At Ozu Abam market, traders also lamented the hardship caused by the poor road network. Mrs Ngozi Nkwonta, a trader from Anambra State who resides in Abia, said the bad road has doubled transport fares and increased business risks.
“I buy farm produce here and sell in Umuahia, but the road has made things very difficult. Sometimes vehicles fall and goods get destroyed. If Benjamin Kalu says work is ongoing, we can all see that nothing is happening. If he can’t fix it, let Governor Alex Otti do it,” she said.
Similarly, another project, the desilting of the Onuinyan River in Bende, said to be attracted by Hon. Kalu through the Nigerian College of Fisheries was also found to be inactive.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that no work had begun at the site, except for a signboard bearing the project details positioned near the bridge along the Umuahia–Bende Road.
The findings have reignited discussions on the need for credible verification of constituency projects across the state.
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