Army Chief Commissions Officers’ Quarters at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna
By Zagazola Makama
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday commissioned newly completed blocks of flats for officers at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna, reaffirming the Nigerian Army’s commitment to improving the welfare and living conditions of its personnel and their families.
The newly completed accommodation project, initiated and constructed under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, is part of ongoing efforts to address accommodation challenges within military formations and enhance the wellbeing of personnel.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Lieutenant General Shaibu commended General Oluyede for his foresight and commitment to the provision of quality infrastructure for Nigerian Army personnel.
He said the project was consistent with the Army’s broader welfare policy, stressing that improved living conditions remained critical to boosting troops’ morale, commitment and operational effectiveness.
The COAS noted that decent accommodation was an essential component of personnel welfare, adding that officers and soldiers provided with conducive living environments would be better positioned to discharge their constitutional responsibilities with professionalism, dedication and renewed commitment.
According to him, the Nigerian Army leadership would continue to prioritise infrastructure development across its formations and units as part of measures to progressively reduce the accommodation deficit and improve the quality of life of personnel and their families.
He said, “The welfare of our personnel remains a key priority of the Nigerian Army. We will continue to invest in infrastructure, training and other welfare initiatives that will enhance the capacity and morale of our officers and soldiers.”
Following the commissioning, the COAS inspected ongoing construction of additional accommodation facilities for soldiers within Ribadu Cantonment.
Lieutenant General Shaibu expressed satisfaction with the progress and standard of work at the construction sites and directed the engineers and contractors handling the projects to maintain quality standards and ensure strict adherence to approved timelines.
He stressed that timely completion of the projects would further complement the Army’s efforts to improve living conditions for personnel and strengthen their ability to perform effectively in the field.
The Army Chief further assured officers and soldiers that Army Headquarters would sustain efforts to improve personnel welfare, infrastructure and training, describing the areas as critical enablers of operational effectiveness and institutional resilience.
He urged beneficiaries of the newly commissioned accommodation to take ownership of the facilities by ensuring proper maintenance and responsible use.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also charged the personnel to remain committed to the highest standards of discipline, professionalism and service to the nation.
The commissioning forms part of the Nigerian Army’s continuing efforts to strengthen personnel welfare while improving infrastructure across its formations in line with the leadership’s broader vision of enhancing operational readiness and institutional effectiveness.
