Defence Minister, Magashi, Inaugurates 150 Housing Muhammadu Buhari Barracks for Officers & Soldiers in Abuja
By Lazarus Zakaa,
Minister of Defence, Maj. General Bashir Magashi (rtd), on Monday commissioned 150 blocks of houses at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, along Abuja International Airport road.
The Minister said he was hopeful that the houses ‘‘will reduce the burden of accommodation faced by personnel as well as enhance operational efficiency noting that if accommodation and other welfare necessities are taken tare of, soldiers will fully concentrate in tackling the security challenges confronting the nation
He noted that the conceptualization of the cantonment is in line with the ‘Next Level’ Agenda of President Buhari’s administration, to enhance the welfare packages of personnel, through the provision of adequate accommodation for the armed forces of Nigeria.
“More so, the knowledge that government is ever ready to provide, is all that the troops require to fulfill their missions,’’ the Minister said.
Magashi noted that while the project was captured in the Ministry of Defence budget for 2018, a large chunk of capital project will be devoted to barrack development and other critical needs of the armed forces in the coming year.
In his address, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Burutai, reiterated Army’s commitment towards providing descent accommodation for its personnel.
He said that the newly commissioned blocks of flats will ameliorate the acute shortage of accommodation for troops.
Burutai affirmed Army’s commitment to safeguard the nation’s security, saying “no stone will be left unturned in its fight against terrorism and other forms of criminal acts.”
The project which was jointly embarked upon by the Nigerian Army Engineers, the Nigerian Army Special Projects department, was supervised by the Nigerian Army Department of logistics was launched on July 10, 2017.
Present at the commissioning ceremony were the Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt. General Lamidi Adeosun, representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Sodunke, representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral SS Lassa, Corp Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers, Major General Malu, Chief of Logistics, Army, Major General Uniugbe, Chief of Training and Operations, Major General Enobong Udoh, Director of Army Audit at Army headquarters, Major General Adesope and CAB Army, Major General Bakare and Acting Provost Marshal, Nigerian Army, Brig General Ahmed among others.
