Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned multiple projects at Adekunle Fajuyi and Letmauck Cantonments aimed at improving the welfare conditions of troops of the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan.
The projects form part of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing the living and working conditions of personnel, boosting morale and strengthening operational effectiveness.
According to a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Danjuma, the projects underscore the COAS’s commitment to providing dignified living quarters built to modern architectural standards, with access to clean water, reliable power supply, adequate security and a healthy living environment for personnel and their families.
Speaking during the commissioning, the COAS, represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, said the commissioned quarters were equipped with supporting facilities to enhance their functionality, ensure proper maintenance and promote operational readiness.
He noted that the projects represented more than concrete, steel and mortar, describing them as deliberate investments in human capital, which remains the NA’s most valuable operational asset.
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The COAS urged the beneficiaries to uphold a proper maintenance culture, stressing that the longevity of the structures depended on the discipline with which they were managed.
He emphasised that personnel must be held accountable for the care and upkeep of the newly commissioned facilities, warning that failure to do so would defeat their purpose.
He reaffirmed the NA’s commitment to prioritising personnel welfare and recognising their sacrifices in the service of national security.
Earlier, the Commander, 42 Engineer Brigade, Uchechukwu Okoroji, said the state of the renovated and remodelled structures before the intervention of the COAS was a major welfare concern.
He identified troops’ welfare and sound administration as central to operational effectiveness, adding that the project would boost personnel morale and commitment to duty.
Similarly, the Commanding Officer, 81 Battalion, Lt Col Chiemezie Innocent Asogwa, expressed appreciation to the COAS for approving and facilitating the execution of the projects for the battalion.
He stated that the interventions reflected the COAS’s commitment to improving the living and working conditions of personnel and their families in line with his Soldiers First concept. He also thanked the GOC for his strategic guidance and support.
The projects inaugurated include two units of 10-man transit accommodation for Corporals and Below (CBQ), five blocks of 36 family CBQ and two Regimental Sergeant Majors’ houses for 2 Military Intelligence Brigade and 502 Signal Brigade at Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment. Others included the 81 Battalion Officers’ Mess, sports facilities, as well as three-bedroom married officers’ quarters in semi-detached duplexes at Letmauck Cantonment, Mokola.
