The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has declared that sustainable accommodation for Nigerian Army personnel is no longer optional but central to operational effectiveness, as he flagged off Phase Two of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks in Abuja.
Zig Diaries Defence
Date: Wednesday, 24 December 2025
Time: 09:24 WAT
Location: 📍 Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony in Asokoro, the Army Chief said the project reflects a deliberate shift by the Nigerian Army from short term welfare interventions to long term, sustainable housing solutions under his Soldier First command philosophy.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, Lieutenant General Shaibu said the initiative comes at a time the Army is intensifying efforts to address longstanding accommodation challenges faced by its personnel nationwide.
“This project represents a strategic move from temporary measures to durable solutions for our soldiers,” the Army Chief said.
“It is about giving our personnel and their families dignified living conditions that support morale, cohesion and operational effectiveness,” he added.
The COAS explained that Phase Two is a completely new barracks, distinct from Phase One which was commissioned in January 2025 by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He noted that the development is central to the Soldier First concept, which places troop welfare at the heart of Army administration and force readiness.
Lieutenant General Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to complete all ongoing residential projects while initiating new ones, stressing that accommodation remains a critical pillar of troop welfare and combat preparedness.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustained support and funding of the project and reaffirmed the loyalty of officers and men of the Nigerian Army to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Earlier, the Coordinator, Nigerian Army Special Projects, Major General Bayode Adetoro, disclosed that while Phase One of the barracks accommodated 614 personnel, Phase Two is projected to house approximately 1,800 personnel on completion.
Major General Adetoro described the project as a direct physical expression of the Army Chief’s Soldier First philosophy, noting that stability at home enhances focus, discipline and effectiveness in the field.
The flag off of Phase Two reinforces the Nigerian Army’s evolving welfare doctrine, signalling that troop accommodation is now being treated as a strategic investment rather than a support afterthought.
🏷️ Tags: Nigerian Army, COAS, Soldier Welfare, Barracks Project, Defence Infrastructure, Abuja
#ZigDiariesDefence #NigeriaArmy #COAS #SoldierFirst #DefenceInfrastructure
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