Nkpa Community Tackles Deputy Speaker Over Road Project

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has been in the centre of political discussions in Abia state recently.

This followed the remarks of the Deputy Speaker that President Bola Tinubu is the real miracle worker in Abia, having made funds available to governors through the fuel subsidy removal, adding that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC would take over the state in 2027.

The political space of Abia State was heated up, drawing attention of many and opening up so many hidden and relatively known issues of the state.

There have been lots of allegations and counter allegations, responses, denials, confirmations and revelations.

While Hon. Benjamin Kalu asked for more projects and accountability from the governor, Dr Alex Otti, considering the huge federal allocation for the state, the Deputy Speaker remarks were met with brute responses from various quarters.

Most recently, the people of Nkpa and Umuimenyi in Bende Local Government Area, which is the constituency of the Deputy Speaker has opened can of worms on the state of projects (completed and ongoing), linked to the Deputy Speaker, asking for explanation on the amount spent on the them.

One of such projects that has been in the centre of the controversy is the 11.3km Umuimenyi–Nkpa Road, complete with two bridges and four culverts, a project celebrated and publicized as one of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s flagship achievements for the people of Bende Federal Constituency in 2021.

In a now viral video, from the area, a voice is heard alleging that the Deputy Speaker posted pictures of roads that are not real.

According to the video, some notable indegenes of Nkpa has been working and negotiating with different administrations for the construction of the road which he alleged that the deputy Speaker prided himself as the one who attracted government presence.

The voice in the video mentioned names like P.C. Onyegbu, who was a lawmaker, Mrs Ekeugo, a Director in Ecological Funds Office among others as those who have been working on the road and not Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

It regretted that the projects executed by the number sixth citizen of the country are now dilapidated within few years of their completion.

It further accused the national lawmaker of misappropriation of funds meant for constituency projects.

Here are excerpts:

“However, what was certified as a “completed project” though not commissioned has today become a tragic symbol of deceit, negligence, and misappropriation of public funds.”

“Despite being funded and officially declared completed, barely 6km of the 11.3km road was actually constructed, with only one bridge built — a poorly executed structure that started collapsing almost immediately after it was declared finished. The remaining stretch, including the Obia Bridge, was completely abandoned.”

“Within months, the so-called “completed road” began to disintegrate. Rains washed away major sections, and cracks widened across the bridges. The supposed solution to rural connectivity became an ecological nightmare — one that endangered lives and threatened to cut off the Nkpa communities of Umuede, Agbiyi, and Obilaji from the rest of the area.”

“Earlier this year, the Federal Government, through the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), again approved funds for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of failed sections of the same road and bridges. Yet, what the community has seen so far are a few signposts, some bags of cement, and hasty patchwork, all carefully staged to create the illusion of work done. Beyond that, nothing meaningful has happened.”

“Meanwhile, the Obia Bridge — featured twice in official documents as “rehabilitated” — remains untouched. The deceit continues, while the road deteriorates further with deadly gullies that threaten to completely cut off some Nkpa communities from others.”

“The people of Nkpa are now crying out — demanding that relevant authorities and anti-graft agencies investigate how funds meant for this lifeline project were diverted. How did a road meant to bring development turn into a death trap? Who certified an incomplete and collapsing project as “completed”?”

“The Umuimenyi–Nkpa Road is no longer just a failed project — it stands as a monument to corruption, a vivid reminder of how political propaganda and fraudulent project execution continue to rob our communities of progress and safety.”

“It is time for accountability. Nkpa deserves answers and justice.”