The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned newly completed blocks of flats for officers at Ribadu Cantonment in Kaduna, as part of efforts to improve the welfare and living conditions of Nigerian Army personnel and their families.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commissioned the facilities on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, reaffirming the Army leadership’s commitment to infrastructure development and enhanced personnel welfare.
The accommodation project was initiated and constructed under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, to address accommodation needs and improve the well-being of personnel.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Shaibu commended Oluyede for his foresight and commitment to providing quality infrastructure for Army personnel.
He said the project was in line with the Nigerian Army’s broader welfare objectives and would contribute to improved troop morale and operational effectiveness.
The COAS described decent accommodation as a critical component of personnel welfare, noting that officers and soldiers who enjoy conducive living conditions would be better positioned to discharge their constitutional responsibilities with professionalism, dedication and renewed commitment.
He assured personnel that Army Headquarters would continue to pursue infrastructure development across formations and units to progressively reduce the accommodation deficit and improve the quality of life of soldiers and their families.
Following the commissioning, the COAS inspected ongoing construction of additional accommodation facilities for soldiers within Ribadu Cantonment.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress and quality of work and directed the engineers and contractors handling the projects to maintain high standards and ensure strict compliance with approved timelines.
Shaibu further assured officers and soldiers that the Army leadership would continue to prioritise personnel welfare, infrastructure development and training as key enablers of operational effectiveness and institutional resilience.
He urged beneficiaries of the newly commissioned accommodation to take ownership of the facilities by ensuring proper maintenance, while remaining committed to the highest standards of discipline, professionalism and service.
The statement was signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, on August 25, 2026.
