By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has inaugurated 120 affordable three-bedroom housing units for soldiers in Abuja, with five per cent of the houses reserved for personnel wounded in action.

Shaibu inaugurated the housing units on Friday under the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) scheme at Idu, Abuja.

He said the special allocation was part of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to recognising the sacrifices of wounded soldiers and ensuring that their service to the nation translated into lasting welfare benefits for them and their families.

The COAS described the housing initiative as a practical demonstration of the Army’s commitment to improving the living conditions of personnel and securing their future after years of service to the nation.

“I am particularly pleased that five per cent of these housing units are reserved for soldiers wounded in action.

“For those who have borne the physical scars of battle, the assurance of a decent home is an enduring affirmation that their sacrifices will never be taken for granted,” he said.

Shaibu said the provision was particularly significant, considering the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families in the course of defending the country.

He noted that behind every soldier were family members who endured prolonged separations, uncertainty and other challenges associated with military deployments.

The Army Chief commended the families of military personnel, particularly spouses, for their resilience and support throughout their husbands’ service to the nation.

He said the initiative was consistent with his command philosophy and the Soldier First concept, which recognised that personnel welfare was closely linked to morale, motivation and operational effectiveness.

According to him, soldiers spend considerable periods away from their families, often under difficult and dangerous conditions, making it imperative for the Army to invest deliberately in their welfare and future.

Shaibu explained that the AHOOAS scheme was conceived as a sustainable response to the accommodation challenges confronting military personnel.

He said access to decent and affordable housing would provide soldiers with dignity, stability and peace of mind, particularly as they approached retirement from service.

“For a soldier who devotes most of his productive years to national service, the assurance of a decent home to retire to represents dignity, stability and peace of mind for the entire family.

“It is also a source of reassurance that, after serving our beloved nation, there is a place they can truly call their own,” he said.

With the commissioning of the additional 120 units in Abuja, Shaibu said the Army was steadily extending the benefits of the scheme to more personnel across the country.

He, however, acknowledged that the housing needs of soldiers remained significant, assuring that the Army would sustain efforts to expand the programme.

The COAS commended the management and staff of Post-Service Housing Development Ltd. (PHDL) for their commitment to translating the housing vision into tangible benefits for personnel.

He paid tribute to the late former COAS, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, whose commitment to soldiers’ welfare, he said, remained an important part of the programme’s legacy.

He equally acknowledged the contributions of successive Army leadership, noting that institutional development required continuity and commitment beyond individual tenures.

The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his strategic guidance and continued support for the Nigerian Army.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director of PHDL, Maj.-Gen. Kevin Ukandu, said the 120 housing units formed part of the Army’s sustained efforts to expand affordable home ownership opportunities for serving personnel.

Ukandu said the project featured 2.5 kilometres of asphalted roads with drainages, 500KVA transformers, solar-powered streetlights and water reticulation systems.

He disclosed that Phase Three of the housing development was already under construction within the same Idu estate.

According to him, the organisation is also conceptualising further expansion of the scheme to other locations across the country.

The PHDL managing director urged beneficiaries to take good care of their houses and the surrounding environment, stressing that the properties were not to be sold.

He said the organisation remained committed to supporting the COAS’ command philosophy through the delivery of affordable homes for soldiers.

The inauguration of Phase 2 marks another step in the Nigerian Army’s efforts to institutionalise personnel welfare through sustainable housing interventions. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba