The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, broke ground Wednesday on Phase 2 of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks in Asokoro, Abuja, aiming to ease the housing crunch for Nigerian Army personnel.
Speaking at the site, Shaibu said the new phase—distinct from Phase 1, opened in January—moves the Army away from stop-gap fixes toward lasting solutions for accommodation shortfalls across formations.
The project, he added, fits his command philosophy of building a professional, resilient force and puts teeth into his “Soldier First Concept,” which puts troop welfare at the top of the list.
The barracks will also give returning deployed troops secure quarters, feeding future operational plans.
“The project lines up with my commitment to every soldier’s welfare and delivers on my command philosophy: turn the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready force that can carry out its constitutional duties in joint and multi-agency settings,” Shaibu said. “Soldier First means exactly that—operational success rides on how well we care for those who defend the nation. When finished, these quarters will house returning personnel and their families in a safe, dignified setting, boost unit cohesion, and sharpen our overall posture.”
He ordered commanders nationwide to keep Army land free from encroachment and told Nigerian Army Properties Limited to secure all title documents.
Maj.-Gen. Bayode Adetoro, Coordinator of Nigerian Army Special Projects and Programmes, said Phase 2 will house about 1,800 personnel on completion.
