President Unveils Bola Tinubu Barracks in Asokoro

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the newly built Army Barracks at Asokoro, Abuja.
The Barracks was named after the president.
Over the years, the Nigerian Army has been plagued with an acute shortage of accommodation for personnel.
To address this dearth of accommodation, the former Army boss, Late Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja ininitiated the project.
The Barracks is in same complex with the Navy Admiralty Estate beside Mogadishu Cantonment.
While commissioning the Barracks, the President lauded late Lagbaja for bequeathing the Army with such beautiful edifice.
He noted that welfare of officers of the Military and paramilitary is his administration’s priority.
According to the president, “The barracks project aligns with the federal government’s commitment to enhancing our troops’ welfare, including providing adequate office and residential accommodation.
“Knowing that the federal government is always ready to provide, what our troops need to fulfill their mandates is essential for winning battles. You are our heroes and I thank you for what you have been doing for this country.
“I commend the Chief of Army Staff for his foresight in developing the remarkable barracks for our courageous men and women. We appreciate the officers and personnel who contributed in various ways to the timely completion of this project. Your welfare cannot and will not compromise on it.
“We will continue to commit resources to improve your welfare. What you all are doing for us is extremely remarkable, is appreciated and the only way we can show this is a continued support for men and women in our uniform. I congratulate all of you on this historic commissioning, making it a reality.
“What we must do is continuous development with right maintenance and commitment to the welfare of our men and women in the uniform.”
Speaking at the event, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede noted that naming the barracks after president was their own way of giving honour to whom honour is due.
His words: “I sincerely appreciate His Excellency, Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief, for accepting to do the Nigerian Army this great honor of commissioning this project in person. Naming this new and modern army barracks after Mr. President, is just a humble way of giving honor to whom honor is due.
“It is an appreciation of His extraordinary support and commitment to improving the welfare and operational looks of the Nigerian Army, particularly in reducing its accommodation burden. Your Excellency, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, please permit me to briefly provide some context to the journey that led to this event.
“First, it was Lieutenant General Faruq Yahaya who recognized the critical need for additional accommodation for the increasing number of Nigerian Army establishments in Abuja, and took the bold step to initiate the construction of these barracks in November 2021, and saw the work to an advanced stage.
“The project education continued during the tenure of the late Chief of Armistice, Lieutenant General Chaudhry W. Odunda-Gwaja, who also provided additional funding and support to ensure its completion. Today, we celebrate the visionary leadership and relentless effort that created the foundation for us to complete and commission this project.
“Your Excellency, I must state loudly that by the last night runner of the relay race, I only came on board to consolidate the race to realize this dream, which was simplified by earlier runners.
“I therefore salute Lieutenant General Yahaya, retired, and the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja for their invaluable contributions to make the dream of this enduring legacy come true. Your Excellency may recall that on the assumption of the office at Chief of Army staff, one of the critical issues at table before you was the fact that about 40 percent of Nigerian Army personnel are not accommodated. The project being commissioned today is only phases one and two of the original plan.
“In specific terms, the project comprises 16 Major General Quarters, 17 Beginner General Quarters, 3 by 20 Family Major to Colonel Quarters, 30 by 20 Family Lieutenant to Captain Quarters, and 60 by 30 Family Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Quarters. Others are 6 by 30 Family Corporal and Below Quarters, 40 by 21 Corporal and Below Quarters. These translate to accommodation for 614 personnel consisting of 170 officers and 444 soldiers and their families.
“Also provided in these barracks are three worship centers, sports facilities, and a powerhouse. The external infrastructure includes the perimeter fence with 15 entrance gates, gatehouses, umbrellas, groundwater supply facilities, access road networks, and hard and soft landscaping, all constructed to the highest standards. Although this seems huge, but with the scale of accommodation deficits the Nigerian Army faces in Abuja, this is only but just a drop in the ocean.
“However, I believe with the unrelenting support of our dear presidents, which are facing three and four of these projects in record time, to cater for additional deficits. At this juncture, I need to place it on record that we showcase here today that what we showcase here today would not be possible provided by our dear president, who has shown great passion for ensuring that our men and women in uniform have affordable, decent, and befitting accommodation to live while in service.
“Relatedly, Mr. President has continued to support our efforts as a welfare scheme for our personnel. As a testament to this, on 18 December 2024, the Nigerian Army commissioned phase one of its affordable ownership options for all soldiers, and who else for short, in Idu, Abuja, to house forwarded subscribers and their families.
“The Idu project will not only cater for the post-service housing needs of our personnel, but will clearly reduce the housing demands by active service allottees serving in Abuja. Your Excellency, sir, as we acknowledge your immense and uncommon support, like the Oliver Twist, the Nigerian Army will continue to seek further interventions to make more modern accommodations available to its personnel, to alleviate the shortage across the entire country.
“The Nigerian Army still faces an active shortage of accommodation, which must be addressed as we continue to defeat insecurity nationwide and reintegrate frontline troops into the barracks. I am very confident that we can achieve this goal with the continued support from the federal governments and other stakeholders. “At this juncture, permit me a moment to reiterate the Nigerian Army’s commitment to upholding the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and supporting its flourishing democracy.
“I pledge the Army’s unflinching support to Mr. President’s administration in its effort to improve the country’s socio-economic and security fortune. As we continue to give up all and well-being of the officers and soldiers working day and night to create an enabling environment for peace, security, economic prosperity and progress in our beloved country.”

 

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