The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has inaugurated 40 housing units for Nigerian soldiers and renovated primary and secondary schools in Edo as part of efforts to improve troops’ welfare and strengthen civil-military relations.
The housing units, delivered under the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOAS), comprise 20 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom semi-detached flats within the Edo Development and Property Ltd. estate in Benin.
Shaibu said the initiative reflected the army’s commitment to its “soldier first” philosophy, noting that decent accommodation is essential to personnel’s welfare, morale and operational effectiveness.
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He said providing soldiers with homes offered them “dignity, comfort, security and peace of mind”, particularly as they prepared for retirement.
The COAS said five per cent of the housing units had been reserved for soldiers severely wounded in action, describing the provision as recognition of their sacrifices in defending the country.
He urged beneficiaries to maintain the facilities and live harmoniously, while thanking President Bola Tinubu for his support for the welfare, force development and operational capability of the Nigerian Army.
Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Kevin Ukandu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Army Post-Service Housing Development Ltd., said the Benin project comprised 10 blocks of two-bedroom flats and 10 blocks of three-bedroom flats.
He said the supporting infrastructure included water reticulation, a 14,000-litre elevated water tank, 450 metres of rigid pavement, solar panels, solar-powered streetlights, a 450-metre perimeter fence and a 300KVA transformer.
Ukandu said the AHOAS initiative had also delivered 400 housing units in Abuja in December 2024, and 60 units in Ibadan in December 2025.
He added that 120 three-bedroom housing units under the programme had been completed in Idu, Abuja, with commissioning scheduled for Nov. 13.
Shaibu also inaugurated the renovated Ezomo Primary and Secondary Schools in Benin City under the army’s Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation Project.
He said the army’s responsibility to safeguard the country extended beyond the battlefield to supporting communities and creating conditions for peaceful development.
“These interventions are informed by our understanding that lasting security is not achieved through military operations alone, but also through the confidence, goodwill and active cooperation of the people,” he said.
The COAS urged community leaders and residents to provide credible information to security agencies, promote peaceful coexistence and take ownership of the facilities to ensure their sustainability.
He commended Maj.-Gen. Thompson Ugiagbe, facilitator of the school project, for his initiative and commitment to improving educational infrastructure in the community.
Shaibu said investing in children’s learning environment would help nurture their potential and prepare them to become future leaders.
Earlier, Ugiagbe said the project was designed to improve access to education and provide a more conducive learning environment for pupils.
“Beyond the physical structure, it symbolises hope, compassion and our shared responsibility to care for our people,” he said.
He described the intervention as a demonstration of the army’s commitment to community development, adding that “the Nigerian army is the people’s army.”
Ugiagbe urged teachers and school administrators to maintain and effectively utilise the facilities, while encouraging residents to protect the project.
He also thanked the COAS for approving and supporting the project, as well as individuals who contributed to its successful execution.
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