Osun

Reps Urge Completion Of Armed Forces School In Osun 17 Years After Budgetary Allocation

ByYusuf Oketola

PublishedNovember 21, 2025

THE House of Representatives has called for the immediate completion of the long-abandoned Armed Forces Nigeria Physical and Health School and Games Village in Esa-Oke, Osun State.

The project, conceived by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Defence, is aimed at enhancing the fitness and combat readiness of Nigerian troops.

The call followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Oluwole Oke, representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, at the plenary session presided over by Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abass.

While presenting the motion,. Oke lamented that despite budgetary allocations since 2008, the project had remained largely abandoned, depriving both the Armed Forces and surrounding communities of the intended benefits.

The lawmaker noted that the institution, modelled after the United States Army Physical Training School in South Carolina, was designed to provide state-of-the-art training facilities to enhance the physical and mental preparedness of military personnel. Its establishment was also expected to create employment, promote security, and engage the youth population in Esa-Oke and neighbouring communities in Osun and Ekiti states.

“The stalled project has now degenerated into a hideout for criminals, posing a serious security threat to residents of the host communities,” Oke said. “The failure to complete the facility undermines the physical conditioning of Nigerian troops and weakens the nation’s security architecture. Urgent intervention is required, as further delay will worsen the situation.”

In adopting the motion, the House urged the Chief of Defence Staff to immediately deploy personnel to secure the project site and begin preliminary activities. It also called on the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Finance to release funds allocated for the project in the current budget.

Furthermore, the lawmakers mandated the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the National Planning Commission to make adequate provisions for the project in the 2026 budget estimates.

The House also directed its Committees on Defence and Legislative Compliance to investigate why previous budgetary allocations for the project were not implemented and to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Yusuf Oketola

Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.