By ZAKAA LAZARUS, ABUJA
The President, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has inaugurated the newly constructed Nigerian Army Barracks located in Asokoro, Abuja.
The magnificent barracks named after the President is one of the several projects aimed at bringing succour to officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, as they perform the onerous constitutional responsibility of defending the nation.
Speaking at the commissioning, President Bola Tinubu pointed out that the barracks project aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing troops’ welfare, including providing adequate office and residential accommodation to ensure conducive working and living conditions for the troops.
He affirmed the readiness of the Federal Government under his watch to always provide the needed support that would enable troops to effectively carry out their constitutional mandate.
The Commander-in-Chief acknowledged the troops as heroes of the nation and lauded them for their resoluteness in the defence and security of the country.
President Tinubu commended the Army leadership for the foresight and successful development of the barracks for the ‘courageous men and women’ of the Nigerian Army.
He further appreciated all the officers, soldiers, and civilian personnel who contributed in various ways to the timely completion and delivery of the project.
The president urged the Nigerian Army to sustain continuous development, maintenance of available facilities, and untiring commitment to the welfare of troops.
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede, explained that christening the new Army barracks after Mr President was in appreciation of his extraordinary support and commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerian Army personnel, particularly in the areas of tackling accommodation challenges and boosting the operational capacity of the service.
The COAS acknowledged the efforts of his predecessors; Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya and Late Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, for envisioning and vigorously pursuing the project, having identified the critical need for personnel accommodation in the Nigerian Army.
Gen Oluyede revealed that the facility, which has so far witnessed the completion of phases 1 and 2, will provide accommodation for 614 personnel consisting of 170 officers, 444 soldiers, and their families. He expressed optimism that with the support of Mr. President, phases 3 and 4 will be executed in record time.
The COAS pledged the unalloyed loyalty and support of the Nigerian Army to the Constitution and Government of the Federation in its effort to revitalize the country’s socio-economic development and national security.
He further solicited the support of the government and all Nigerians for the enhanced welfare and well-being of officers and soldiers toiling day and night to create enabling environment for peace, security, economic prosperity and progress in the country.
In a related activity, the president also took time out to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an ultra-modern Armed Forces Complex in Abuja.
