Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned 110 new family houses for Corporals and below as well as Senior Non Commissioned Officers at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, saying the project reflects the Nigerian Army’s commitment to improving the welfare of its personnel.
The housing estate, inaugurated on Tuesday, is expected to provide modern accommodation for junior soldiers and their families, a move the Army said it will boost morale, enhance operational readiness and improve the overall welfare of troops.
Speaking during the commissioning, Lt Gen Shaibu said decent accommodation remains a critical component of the Nigerian Army’s “Soldier First” initiative, stressing that personnel perform better when they have a stable and comfortable home environment.
He told the beneficiaries that quality housing is not a luxury but a necessity that allows soldiers to focus on their duties without worrying about the welfare of their families.
According to the COAS, investing in the welfare of troops is essential to building a professional, motivated and combat ready Army capable of effectively carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
The housing project was executed by the Directorate of Procurement (Army). Providing details of the estate, the Director of Procurement, Major General Sadisu Yakasai, said it consists of 52 buildings spread across 21 blocks with 10 modern architectural designs.
He explained that the estate comprises one and two bedroom flats for 80 junior soldiers, alongside three bedroom flats and twin houses for 30 Senior Non Commissioned Officers. Each unit is equipped with essential living facilities, including bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen and toilet.
Maj Gen Yakasai urged the beneficiaries to maintain the houses properly, noting that preserving the facilities would ensure they continue to serve future generations of soldiers.
Also speaking, the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Major General John Lar, commended the Chief of Army Staff for prioritising the welfare of junior personnel. He encouraged the occupants to treat the estate as their own by protecting and maintaining the facilities.
The commissioning is part of the Nigerian Army’s broader efforts to improve living conditions for its personnel through the provision of modern and sustainable accommodation, reinforcing the belief that a well motivated and properly cared for soldier is better positioned to defend the nation.
