By Miriam Humbe
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned newly completed blocks of flats for officers at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna.
A statement signed on Tuesday by Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said this was part of efforts by the Nigerian Army to improve personnel welfare and living conditions.
The commissioning reinforced the Army’s commitment to providing decent and conducive accommodation for its personnel and their families.
The accommodation project was initiated and constructed under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, to address accommodation challenges facing Nigerian Army personnel.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lieutenant General Shaibu commended General Oluyede for his foresight and commitment to quality infrastructure, noting that improved welfare contributes significantly to troop morale and operational effectiveness.
The COAS stressed that decent accommodation is a vital component of personnel welfare, enabling officers and soldiers to live in conducive conditions and discharge their constitutional responsibilities with professionalism, dedication and renewed commitment.
Lieutenant General Shaibu assured personnel that Army Headquarters would sustain infrastructure development across formations and units, with the aim of progressively reducing the accommodation deficit and improving the quality of life of troops and their families.
After the commissioning, the COAS inspected ongoing construction of additional accommodation for soldiers within Ribadu Cantonment. He expressed satisfaction with the progress and directed engineers and contractors to maintain quality standards and adhere strictly to approved timelines.
The COAS further reaffirmed that personnel welfare, infrastructure development and training remain key priorities of the Nigerian Army leadership and critical enablers of operational effectiveness and institutional resilience.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged beneficiaries to take ownership of the newly commissioned facilities through proper maintenance, while remaining committed to discipline, professionalism and duty.
