By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has advanced the Nigerian Army’s “Soldier First” agenda with the development of 1,000 housing units for personnel and their families at the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks Phase II in Abuja.
Shaibu performed the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II on December 24, 2025, following the commissioning of Phase I of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks by President Bola Tinubu on January 23, 2025.
Unlike Phase I, which was designed to accommodate 614 personnel, Phase II is a separate barracks development projected to provide accommodation for about 1,000 personnel and their families, representing the largest single housing intervention of its kind in Abuja under the current Army leadership.
The Army explained that the new barracks development was aimed at addressing its long-standing accommodation deficit, providing troops returning from operations with decent and secure housing, while strengthening their morale, family stability and unit cohesion.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Shaibu thanked President Tinubu for the funding and political support extended to the project, linking decent accommodation directly to the operational readiness of the Nigerian Army. He described the initiative as a shift from short-term repairs to the provision of durable housing for personnel, stressing that secure and decent accommodation remained essential to troop welfare.
The Army Chief explained that decent housing could strengthen morale, provide greater stability for military families and enhance cohesion within units, particularly as personnel return from the field and require suitable accommodation rather than uncertainty over their housing needs.
Beyond the Abuja project, Shaibu has directed the completion of ongoing residential projects across the country, while approving two 30-family blocks in each Army division as an interim measure. The Army leadership is also continuing with the renovation of existing barracks as part of its broader welfare programme.
Under the “Soldier First” agenda, the Army explained that the welfare of personnel extends beyond accommodation to healthcare, education, insurance, family support and post-service housing, positioning the Phase II project as part of a wider welfare strategy rather than an isolated construction project.
The Army further stated that the provision of barracks serves both welfare and operational purposes, as properly housed personnel are better positioned to maintain discipline, readiness and unit cohesion.
The 1,000-unit development at the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks is consequently expected to provide accommodation for personnel and their families while strengthening the infrastructure supporting troops who defend the nation.
The project reflects the Army leadership’s stated commitment to placing the welfare of soldiers and their families at the centre of its “Soldier First” agenda.
