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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Friday, inaugurated a total of 120 affordable three-bedroom housing units for soldiers in Abuja.
The housing scheme under the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS), located at Idu, has five percent of the houses allocated to soldiers wounded in action.
Gen. Shaibu, said the special allocation was part of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to recognising the sacrifices of wounded soldiers and ensuring that their service to the nation translated into lasting welfare benefits for them and their family members.
The army Chief who described the housing initiative as a practical demonstration of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to improving the living conditions of personnel and securing their future after years of service to the nation, said the provision was particularly significant, considering the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families in the course of defending the country.
He said, “I am particularly pleased that five per cent of these housing units are reserved for soldiers wounded in action.
“For those who have borne the physical scars of battle, the assurance of a decent home is an enduring affirmation that their sacrifices will never be taken for granted.”
The COAS, while noting that behind every soldier were family members who endured prolonged separations, uncertainty and other challenges associated with military deployments, commended the families of military personnel, particularly spouses, for their resilience and support throughout their husbands’ service to the nation.
Gen. Shaibu, who said the initiative was consistent with his command philosophy and the Soldier First concept, which recognised that personnel welfare was closely linked to morale, motivation and operational effectiveness, noted that soldiers spend considerable periods away from their families, often under difficult and dangerous conditions, making it imperative for the Army to invest deliberately in their welfare and future.
The COAS, while noting that the AHOOAS scheme was conceived as a sustainable response to the accommodation challenges confronting military personnel, said access to decent and affordable housing would provide soldiers with dignity, stability and peace of mind, particularly as they approached retirement from service.
He said, “For a soldier who devotes most of his productive years to national service, the assurance of a decent home to retire to represents dignity, stability and peace of mind for the entire family.
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“It is also a source of reassurance that, after serving our beloved nation, there is a place they can truly call their own,” he said.
He also said that with the commissioning of the additional 120 units in Abuja, the Army was steadily extending the benefits of the scheme to more personnel across the country, saying that the housing needs of soldiers remained significant, and that the Army would sustain efforts to expand the programme.
He commended the management and staff of Post-Service Housing Development Ltd. (PHDL) for their commitment to translating the housing vision into tangible benefits for personnel.
He specifically paid glowing tribute to the late former COAS, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, whose commitment to soldiers’ welfare, he said, remained an important part of the programme’s legacy.
He equally acknowledged the contributions of successive Army leadership, noting that institutional development required continuity and commitment beyond individual tenures.
The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his strategic guidance and continued support for the Nigerian Army.
Earlier in his address, the Group Managing Director of PHDL, Major General Kevin Ukandu, said the 120 housing units formed part of the Army’s sustained efforts to expand affordable home ownership opportunities for serving personnel.
Ukandu said the project featured 2.5 kilometres of asphalted roads with drainages, 500KVA transformers, solar-powered streetlights and water reticulation systems to make the homes comfortable for the owners.
Gen. Ukandu, who said that Phase Three of the housing development was already under construction within the same Idu estate, said the organisation is also conceptualising further expansion of the scheme to other states of the country.
While congratulating the beneficiaries for their new homes, Gen. Ukandu, urged them to take good care of the houses and the surrounding environment and warned that the properties were not to be sold.
He said the organisation remained committed to supporting the COAS’ command philosophy through the delivery of affordable homes for soldiers.
