…Links Decent Accommodation To Soldiers’ Performance, Operational Readiness
By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has marked his first anniversary in office with the commissioning of newly constructed residential accommodation and the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Finance and Administration Battalion, reaffirming the Army’s commitment to personnel welfare as a critical component of operational readiness.
Shaibu, who assumed office in October 2025, said improved living conditions for soldiers and modern administrative facilities were essential to boosting morale, enhancing productivity and strengthening the Nigerian Army’s capacity to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
The projects were commissioned on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Mogadishu Barracks and other military barracks, with the COAS represented by the Chief of Special Services, Major General Aminu Garba.
Speaking through his representative, the Army Chief said the projects reflected his determination to build a professional, well-equipped and motivated force capable of responding effectively to the country’s security challenges.
He stressed that military effectiveness depended not only on modern equipment, adequate training and operational preparedness but also on the welfare of personnel and the quality of their working and living environments.
“The relationship between living standards, workplace environment and operational capability is direct and undeniable,” Shaibu said.
He added that soldiers who enjoyed decent accommodation and worked in modern, fully equipped offices would be better positioned to perform their duties with greater concentration, pride and efficiency.
“Soldiers who are well-housed, whose families are secured in decent accommodation, and who operate from modern, fully equipped office facilities will inevitably perform their duties with greater focus, pride and efficiency,” he stated.
The COAS explained that the residential facilities were designed to provide dignified living conditions for personnel and their families, with supporting infrastructure, including road networks, security fencing and other essential amenities to guarantee a safe and conducive environment.
He described the projects as strategic investments in the Army’s human resources, noting that the welfare of officers, soldiers and their families remained fundamental to building a professional and effective military institution.
Shaibu urged commanders and benefiting personnel to embrace a strong maintenance culture, stressing that the facilities must be properly managed and preserved to serve present and future generations.
He further charged commanders to ensure that the improved infrastructure translated into greater administrative efficiency and renewed commitment to ongoing military operations.
The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for the Nigerian Army, particularly in infrastructure development, force expansion and personnel welfare. He also acknowledged the contributions of relevant departments, project supervisors, contractors and other stakeholders to the successful completion of the projects.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of Procurement at Army Headquarters, Brigadier General A.S. Fidelis, representing the Director of Procurement, said the projects formed part of the Army’s broader infrastructure development programme aimed at addressing accommodation shortages and improving working conditions across its formations and establishments.
Fidelis disclosed that the completed projects included residential quarters and office infrastructure at Mogadishu Barracks, Lungi Barracks and Mambilla Barracks, as well as an office complex for the Nigerian Army Finance and Administration Battalion.
He revealed that the Army’s wider infrastructure development programme had provided additional accommodation for more than 1,200 personnel of the rank of corporal and below, over 70 senior non-commissioned officers and their families, as well as more than 50 single and married officers.
According to him, the projects demonstrated the Army leadership’s determination to translate budgetary commitments into tangible improvements in personnel welfare and institutional capacity.
He noted that some of the projects were awarded under the 2024 capital appropriation, adding that their completion underscored the importance of effective planning, coordination, supervision and timely execution.
The procurement official reaffirmed the Directorate of Procurement’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, value for money and the delivery of infrastructure that meets approved standards and the operational requirements of the Nigerian Army.
He also urged the beneficiaries to protect the facilities through responsible use and regular maintenance, noting that the substantial resources invested in their construction must be preserved.
In his remarks, the contractor handling the project, Engr. Emmanuel Kayode Ogwuride, described the completed structures as quality buildings equipped with modern room facilities designed to provide comfort for military personnel.
Ogwuride said the provision of improved accommodation remained a priority, adding that the objective was to deliver modern structures that met the needs of their intended occupants.
The commissioning ceremony featured the formal handover of the completed facilities to the Nigerian Army for use by designated personnel and their families.
The development is expected to contribute to reducing the Army’s accommodation deficit while providing improved working environments for personnel responsible for its financial and administrative operations.
The Nigerian Army said the projects were part of its continuing efforts to strengthen personnel welfare, expand institutional capacity and improve the effectiveness of its formations and units nationwide.
