The Nigerian Army has commissioned 30 new family accommodation units at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna, as part of ongoing efforts to improve personnel welfare and upgrade infrastructure across its formations.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, unveiled the two completed blocks of family housing units on Thursday, describing decent accommodation as essential to personnel welfare, morale and effective military administration.
According to a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the new accommodation is expected to ease pressure on existing housing facilities at Ribadu Cantonment, which hosts several Nigerian Army establishments.
Shaibu said the well-being of soldiers and their families directly affects morale, motivation and operational effectiveness, stressing that accommodation remains an important component of the Army’s welfare responsibilities.
He also linked the project to the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army, noting that increased manpower and operational responsibilities must be matched by corresponding investments in infrastructure and welfare facilities.
The COAS disclosed that similar accommodation projects were ongoing in barracks and cantonments across the country as part of a broader programme to rehabilitate ageing infrastructure and provide additional facilities for personnel.
He said the initiative formed part of the Nigerian Army’s wider infrastructure development and renewal programme aimed at improving living and working conditions across its formations and units.
At Ribadu Cantonment, the newly completed housing units provide additional accommodation for military families while supporting efforts to modernise residential infrastructure within the cantonment.
Shaibu charged the beneficiaries to take ownership of the facilities and ensure their proper use and maintenance.
The General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Abubakar Muhammed Wase, commended the COAS for prioritising personnel welfare, describing the project as timely and morale-boosting.
He assured that the facilities would be properly utilised and maintained.
The COAS also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his continued support and provision of resources towards improving the welfare and living conditions of Nigerian Army personnel and their families.
