Tinubu pledges to make welfare top priority for military personnel

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday pledged that his administration would commit more resources towards improving the welfare of military personnel protecting the nation’s territorial integrity

Tinubu stated this at Admiralty Estate near Mogadishu Cantonment, at the commissioning of a newly built military Barracks named after him and meant to accommodate over 600 personnel

While assuring that he would continue to provide whatever would be needed to ease the job of the troops, particularly those on the front lines, he stated it was essential to win the ongoing war against bandits, terrorists and others.

According to him, “Knowing that the Federal Government is always ready to provide what our troops need to fulfil their mandates is essential for winning battles. You are our heroes and I thank you for what you have been doing for this country.

“Your welfare cannot and we 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 and appreciated and the only way we can show this is through continued support for men and women in our uniform”.

He charged authorities of the Nigerian Army to ensure adequate maintenance culture to keep the accommodation conducive for the personnel always.

“What we must do is continuous development with right maintenance and commitment to the welfare of our men and women in uniform,” he added.

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Speaking earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, lamented that over 40 per cent of the Nigerian Army personnel are still not accommodated, but assured that he would do everything within his power to reduce the challenges being faced.

He said, “Your Excellency may recall that on the assumption of the office of Chief of Army Staff, one of the critical issues at the table before you was the fact that about 40 per cent of Nigerian Army personnel are not accommodated.”

Giving the details of how the new Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks would be allocated, Oluyede said the barracks contained a total of 614 accommodations, saying both senior and junior officers as well as soldiers would be accommodated.

The Army Chief stated, “In specific terms, the project comprises 16 Major General Quarters, 34 Brigadier General Quarters, 3 by 20 Family Major to Colonel Quarters, 3 by 20 Family Lieutenant to Captain Quarters, and 6 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 centres, 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, with the scale of accommodation deficits the Nigerian Army faces in Abuja, this is only but just a drop in the ocean,”.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE