ARMY CHIEF COMMISSIONS 170 FLATS, NEW SCHOOL FOR TROOPS IN KADUNA

By Olayiwola Ibrahim // As part of efforts to enhance the welfare of troops, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Friday, commissioned 170 flats for soldiers at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State.

In addition to the residential accommodation, he also inaugurated a newly built Infantry Model Command Day Secondary School to bridge the gap in secondary education within the cantonment and surrounding areas.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Lt. Gen. Oluyede stated that he initiated both projects during his tenure as Infantry Corps Commander after identifying critical shortages in troop housing and the quality of secondary education available to children in the area.

He said as the Chief of Army Staff, I have embraced the same ethos in my quest for the best, in terms of welfare for our soldiers nationwide.

The Infantry Model Command Day Secondary School we just commissioned is indeed a beautiful edifice and it will also be staffed with the best of teachers and other administrative staff.

The goal is to give our children the best education and place them in a favourable position to compete with their contemporaries in public and private schools both at home and abroad.

This laudable initiative will not end here in Jaji. Similar initiatives will be replicated nationwide in identified areas of need.

As I speak, the final equipping of the newly constructed Command Children School in Daura Katsina is ongoing while renovation works are being carried out in similar institutions nationwide.

These are all part of my grand plan for the improved welfare of our troops and their families.

This is because I recognise that the standard of welfare of our personnel and their families is crucial to our Force Readiness and this informed the Soldier First Culture as one of the strategic objectives of my Command Philosophy.

In that wise, the commissioning of these 17 blocks of accommodation today will indeed go a long way in providing the much-needed relief in the Jaji community.

However, I urge all the beneficiaries to take proper care of these spaces and will continue to do more to give our soldiers a befitting quality of life in the barracks.

I am sure you all are aware that the Nigerian Army under my watch is also focusing on the post-service housing needs of our personnel by rapidly expanding the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers program otherwise known as AHOOAS.

All soldiers of the Nigerian Army should therefore be rest assured that under my leadership, their welfare will be my priority,” COAS said

In his welcome address, the Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Abdulkhalifa Ibrahim said, the commissioning ceremony marks a significant milestone in their commitment to enhancing the welfare of personnel and their families and also reflects the unwavering dedication of the Nigerian Army leadership to build upon the achievements of the predecessors.

The focus of our Chief of Army Staff Command Philosophy is clear to consolidate the successes of past leaders and to bequeath a well-motivated and combat-ready force that is capable of fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.

Central to this vision is the recognition that the welfare of our soldiers and their families is paramount.

It is this philosophy that has driven the conception and execution of vital projects that are aimed at addressing the pressing needs of our troops

Today, we celebrate the completion of the first phase of 17 blocks of 10 flats at the newly renamed Lt Gen OO Oluyede Barracks in Old Kafanchan Barracks.

This initiative directly addresses the accommodation challenges faced by our soldiers and their families, providing them with a secure and comfortable living environment, the Commander said.