By Elizabeth Tanko
Kaduna, Nigeria — The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned 30 family accommodation units at the Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna, as part of sustained efforts to improve troops’ welfare and operational effectiveness.
The project, unveiled on Thursday, September 24, 2026, comprises two blocks of modern family housing units designed to ease accommodation pressure within the cantonment and provide decent living conditions for personnel and their families.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gen. Shaibu said provision of befitting accommodation remains a critical pillar of personnel welfare and sound administration under his Command Philosophy, noting that the wellbeing of soldiers and their families directly impacts morale, motivation and combat readiness.
The intervention has become more imperative as the Nigerian Army expands its force structure and operational footprint across the country, stressing that expansion must be matched with corresponding investment in infrastructure and welfare facilities, Gen Shuaibu said in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele on Thursday.
The COAS noted that Ribadu Cantonment hosts several Nigerian Army establishments, expressing optimism that the additional units would significantly reduce accommodation deficits. He charged beneficiaries to take ownership of the facilities and ensure proper maintenance.
Gen. Shaibu disclosed that similar housing and infrastructure renewal projects are ongoing in barracks and cantonments nationwide to rehabilitate ageing facilities and meet evolving operational requirements.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his continued support and provision of resources to enhance troops’ welfare.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Abubakar Muhammed Wase, thanked the COAS for prioritising troops’ welfare, describing the project as timely and morale-boosting. He assured that the Division would ensure proper utilisation and maintenance of the facilities.
The commissioning is part of the Nigerian Army’s broader infrastructure development drive aimed at improving living standards in formations and units across the country.
