The Armed Forces School and Games Village in Esa-Oke, initiated in 2010 under the Ministry of Defense and facilitated by then-lawmaker Oluwole Oke, remains incomplete after 14 years. Originally budgeted at N254 million in 2012, over N1 billion has since been allocated to the project, which now lies abandoned and overrun by vegetation. Three buildings, including a library and store, were constructed and furnished before work stopped, while a security room and iron gates mark the entrance along the Ijebu-Ijesa/Esa-Oke road. The contractor, HEA-BOND NIG LTD, incorporated in 1995 with registration number 264055, is listed as inactive on the Corporate Affairs Commission portal, with no contact details available. Residents of Esa-Oke, including farmers who lost land to the project, now regret their sacrifice. Thick bushes cover the structures, windows are broken, roofing sheets looted, and cow dung litters the site. A resident named Tunji said criminals have turned the area into a hideout, stealing fixtures and materials. Sanmi, a local graduate farming on part of the land, said his farm was attacked twice by Fulani herders.
A billion-naira project meant for military personnel sits in ruins while the contractor, HEA-BOND NIG LTD, vanishes without a trace. Oluwole Oke pushed this project through the budget, but 14 years on, constituents have nothing but regret and a haven for criminals. This is not just failed execution — it's a pattern where public funds disappear into private pockets with no consequences. For the people of Esa-Oke, the cost has been more than economic; it's the loss of trust in the promise of development.
