The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday, 24 September 2026, unveiled 30 family accommodation units at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna, as part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare and living conditions of Nigerian Army personnel and their families.
A statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele Acting Director Army Public Relations said the newly completed accommodation, comprising two blocks of family housing units, is designed to ease accommodation challenges within the Cantonment and provide a conducive living environment for personnel. The project is part of the Nigerian Army’s broader infrastructure development and renewal programme aimed at improving facilities across formations and units nationwide.
Speaking at the unveiling, the COAS stated that the provision of decent accommodation remains an important component of personnel welfare and robust administration under his Command Philosophy. He noted that the wellbeing of soldiers and their families has a direct bearing on morale, motivation and operational effectiveness.
Lieutenant General Shaibu explained that the intervention has become even more important as the Nigerian Army expands its force structure and operational reach. He stressed that the growth of the Army must be accompanied by corresponding investment in infrastructure and welfare facilities required to support personnel and their families.
The COAS noted that Ribadu Cantonment accommodates several Nigerian Army establishments and expressed optimism that the additional housing units would help reduce pressure on existing accommodation. He charged the beneficiaries to take ownership of the facilities and ensure their proper use and maintenance.
General Shaibu further disclosed that similar accommodation projects are ongoing in barracks and cantonments across the country as part of efforts to rehabilitate ageing infrastructure and provide additional facilities to meet the evolving requirements of the Nigerian Army.
He expressed appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his continued support and provision of resources towards improving the welfare and living conditions of Nigerian Army personnel and their families.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Abubakar Muhammed Wase, expressed appreciation to the COAS for prioritising troops’ welfare. He described the project as timely and morale-boosting, assuring that the facilities would be properly utilised and maintained.
