The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has flagged off Phase Two of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks construction project in Abuja.
The initiative aims to provide adequate accommodation for army personnel, enhance operational readiness, and address longstanding housing challenges within the Nigerian Army.
General Shaibu said that adequate accommodation for personnel represents a strategic enabler of operational sustainability and force readiness.
He made the remark at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Phase Two of the barracks.
“This is because the Nigerian Army Order of Battle cannot be fully implemented without projecting for future force locations,” he explained.
He observed that the project comes at a time when the Nigerian Army is making renewed efforts to tackle the acute accommodation challenges being faced by its personnel across the nation.
“The project is also in tandem with my commitment to the welfare of all Nigerian Army personnel and in fulfilment of my Command Philosophy, which aims to transform the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment’,” General Shaibu said.
“This initiative is also central to my ‘Soldier First Concept’, which seeks to deliberately prioritise the welfare and living conditions of our officers and soldiers. It is worth reiterating that my Soldier First Concept is premised on the understanding that operational success is directly linked to the level of care and support provided to those entrusted with the defence of our beloved nation.
The President Bola Tinubu Barracks Phase Two, therefore, stands as a practical expression of my Command Philosophy.”
General Shaibu expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unflinching support and prompt intervention towards the provision of decent and dignified housing for personnel of the Nigerian Army.
The Coordinator of Nigerian Army Special Projects and Programmes, Major General Bayode Adetoro, explained that the Phase Two project is projected to provide accommodation for about 1,800 personnel, representing a significant expansion that will further address housing needs within the Nigerian Army.
“The project aligns squarely with the pillars of the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy, which is firmly rooted in the ‘Soldier-First’ culture a philosophy that prioritises comprehensive welfare systems encompassing housing, healthcare, education, family support, and post-service reintegration,” he said.
“Efforts such as this are essential to sustaining morale, loyalty and operational effectiveness across the force,” Major General Adetoro added.