The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has issued a directive for the expedited completion of all ongoing residential accommodation projects within Nigerian Army barracks across the country. The move is a central part of a renewed strategy to tackle the persistent housing deficit affecting personnel.
The directive was delivered on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025 in Abuja. Lt.-Gen. Shaibu emphasized that enhancing troop welfare, particularly through adequate housing, is a fundamental pillar of his command philosophy and a continuation of legacy projects from his predecessors.
“In line with our welfare commitments to all Nigerian Army personnel, I shall continue to build on the efforts of past Chiefs of Army Staff in addressing the crisis of accommodation shortages,” the Army Chief stated.
To bridge the immediate gap, Gen. Shaibu announced that the Army would invest in a comprehensive program of renovation works existing barracks facilities nationwide. This will run concurrently with the construction of new residential projects planned for various Army divisions.
Looking beyond active service, the COAS outlined a parallel priority: securing post-service housing for retiring soldiers and officers. He framed this as essential to ensuring the dignity and financial stability of personnel after their military service.
“With all these efforts aimed at addressing existing accommodation shortfalls, we will continue to strike a balance by also securing post-service housing for all our soldiers and officers,” he said.
Demonstrating this commitment, the COAS is scheduled to commission the Affordable Home Ownership Option (AHOO) project for soldiers, alongside a new Post-Service Housing Development Limited shopping complex, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday.
“Under my watch, the post-service housing needs of all our soldiers will remain a top priority, with due attention to the completion of ongoing projects,” Gen. Shaibu assured.
He expressed confidence that these integrated housing schemes would significantly alleviate accommodation challenges, describing them as a critical component of the Army’s broader welfare architecture. The COAS also commended the Chief of Logistics (Army) and other commanders for their ongoing efforts, reiterating his resolve to confront the accommodation issue “head on with all the seriousness it deserves.”
