By Uche Amunike
President Bola Tinubu has commissioned the newly built Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks situated at Asokoro, Abuja, where he also expressed his gratitude to the personnel of the Nigerian military for their gallantry and sacrifices towards ensuring that the country is safe from the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements.
Speaking, during the inauguration, the President who was a Special Guest of Honor at the event, expressed his happiness at the quick completion of the barracks, which was named after him, recalling how the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the Late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja approached him to ask for his support for the project.
He stated that the project is in tandem with the government’s commitment to enhancing welfare of troops, which includes providing adequate office and residential accommodation, knowing that the federal government is always there to provide what troops need to fulfill their mandates, which is essential for being victorious in battles against insecurity.
His words: ‘You are our heroes and I thank you for what you have been doing for this country. I commend the Chief of Army Staff for his foresight in developing the remarkable barracks for our courageous men and women.’
‘We appreciate the officers and personnel who contributed in various ways to the timely completion of this project. Your welfare cannot and will not be compromised.’
‘We will continue to commit resources to improve your welfare. What you all are doing for us is extremely remarkable, it is appreciated and the only way we can show this is a continued support for our men and women in uniform.’
He further stated: ‘I congratulate all of you on this historic commissioning, making it a reality. What we must do is continuous development with right maintenance and commitment to the welfare of our men and women in uniform.’
Among the President’s entourage were top government officials, including the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Barau Jibrin; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun; Director General, Department of the State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, amongst several others.
During his welcome address, the COAS, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, stated that about 40% of the Nigerian Army personnel were not yet accommodated.
Hear him: ‘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.’
‘The project being commissioned today is only phases one and two of the original plan.’
‘In specific terms, the project comprises 16 Major General Quarters, 17 Brigadier General Quarters, three by 20 Family Major to Colonel Quarters, 30 by 20 Family Lieutenant to Captain Quarters, and 60 by 30 Family Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Quarters. Others are six 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 of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks, he further stated, ‘include 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’, he concluded.
