Lawmakers Act on Dormant Military Training Facility
The House of Representatives has issued a strong call to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate completion of the long-abandoned Armed Forces Nigeria Physical and Health School and Games Village located in Esa-Oke, Osun State. This decisive move took place during a plenary session on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Rep. Abbas Tajudeen.
Motion Highlights Project's Derelict State
The push for action originated from a motion presented by Hon. Oluwole Oke, the representative for Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency. Hon. Oke expressed deep concern that despite consistent budgetary allocations since 2008, the crucial project has remained largely dormant. He revealed that the institution was designed to mirror the United States Army Physical Training School in South Carolina, with the goal of providing state-of-the-art facilities to enhance the physical and mental preparedness of Nigerian military personnel.
Hon. Oke painted a grim picture of the current situation, stating, "The poor and derelict state of the school has turned it into an abode for criminals, inflicting pain and losses on the people of Osun and Ekiti States." He issued a stern warning that urgent intervention is required, as further delays would only worsen the security situation in the area.
Security and Economic Implications
The lawmaker further emphasized the broader consequences of the project's abandonment. He noted that the school was expected to be a significant source of employment, promote greater security, and positively engage the youth in Esa-Oke and its surrounding communities. Its current state, therefore, directly undermines Nigeria's overall security architecture and represents a lost opportunity for regional development.
In response to these concerns, the House passed a multi-pronged resolution. It urgently called upon the Chief of Defence Staff to deploy personnel immediately to secure the vast project site and commence preliminary activities to prevent further deterioration and criminal occupation.
Furthermore, the lawmakers mandated the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Finance to release all funds already allocated for the project in the current budget. Looking ahead, they instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the National Planning Commission to ensure adequate provisions for the project are included in the 2026 budget.
To ensure accountability, the House also directed its Committees on Defence and Legislative Compliance to investigate the reasons why previous budgetary allocations were not implemented. The committees are required to report back with their findings within four weeks for further legislative action.
New Force Commander Assumes Role
In a separate development within the security sector, a new Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Saidu Tanko Audu, officially assumed command on Thursday at the Headquarters of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N'djamena, Chad. This announcement was made by the Chief Military Public Information Officer for the MNJTF, Lt.-Col. Iweha Ikedichi.
Maj.-Gen. Audu takes over from Maj.-Gen. Godwin Michael Mutkut, who has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps as Corps Commander. In his inaugural address, Audu expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for the confidence placed in him. He commended his predecessor's leadership and pledged to build upon the existing gains and strengthen synergy among the various components of the Multinational Joint Task Force.
He urged all personnel to remain disciplined, focused, and innovative in their operational conduct. Gen. Audu also called for stronger collaboration with local communities and other security stakeholders to achieve lasting peace in the region.
