Odita Sunday 
COAS Commissions 30-Unit Officers’ Quarters, Pledges Improved Troop Welfare
By Odita Sunday
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday commissioned newly constructed Single Officers’ Quarters at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja, reiterating the Nigerian Army’s commitment to improving personnel welfare as part of efforts to enhance combat readiness and operational effectiveness.
Speaking at the inauguration, Lt.-Gen. Shaibu described the project as a reflection of his administration’s “Soldier First Culture,” which places the welfare and well-being of personnel at the centre of the Army’s transformation agenda.
He said quality accommodation was a strategic investment aimed at building a motivated, resilient and mission-focused force capable of responding effectively to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
According to the Army Chief, modern accommodation goes beyond welfare, serving as a critical force multiplier that improves officers’ physical well-being, mental alertness and professional efficiency.
> “Providing quality accommodation remains a deliberate investment in building a highly motivated, resilient and mission-focused force capable of effectively addressing the nation’s evolving security challenges,” he said.
Shaibu added that officers who live in conducive environments are better positioned to sustain high operational performance, make sound decisions under pressure and accomplish assigned missions across various theatres of operation.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to continue constructing modern accommodation and other welfare facilities in barracks and cantonments nationwide to strengthen institutional resilience and operational capability.
The COAS commended the Directorate of Procurement for delivering the project according to approved standards and expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its sustained support in enhancing the Army’s operational capacity through investments in personnel welfare and infrastructure.
Earlier, the Director of Procurement, Major General Sadisu Yakasai, said the project consists of five two-storey blocks of Single Officers’ Quarters, each containing six self-contained one-bedroom apartments, providing accommodation for 30 single officers.
He explained that each apartment is equipped with a bedroom, living room, kitchen and restroom facilities, adding that the initiative demonstrates the Army leadership’s commitment to improving the living conditions of personnel.
Yakasai noted that better accommodation boosts morale, strengthens combat readiness and enhances the Nigerian Army’s ability to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively.
The commissioning ceremony formed part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Army to improve welfare infrastructure while sustaining operational effectiveness in addressing the country’s security challenges.
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