COAS Commissions 120 Housing Units in Abuja, Says Army Welfare Remains Top Priority
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to improving the welfare of its personnel through sustained infrastructural development and affordable housing schemes.
Shaibu stated this on Friday, November 13, 2026, during the commissioning of 120 newly completed three-bedroom housing units under Phase 2 of the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) at Idu, Abuja.
The latest commissioning brings the total number of housing units delivered under the scheme nationwide to 700, providing more soldiers with opportunities to own decent and affordable homes after years of meritorious service.
The Army Chief explained that the military’s transformation agenda goes beyond operational effectiveness to include improved living conditions, healthcare facilities, modern barracks and post-service housing opportunities for personnel.
He stressed that troops’ welfare remains central to his administration’s Soldier-First Culture, noting that the Army must prioritise the well-being of personnel and their families during active service and after retirement.
Shaibu also disclosed that five per cent of the newly delivered housing units had been reserved for personnel wounded in action in recognition of their sacrifices in defence of the country.
Highlighting the progress of the AHOOAS initiative, the COAS recalled that 400 housing units were delivered in Abuja in December 2024, 60 in Ibadan in December 2025, 80 in Jos in June 2026 and 40 in Benin City on November 6, 2026, alongside the latest 120 units in Abuja.
He commended the Post-Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL), project partners and successive Army leaderships for sustaining the initiative. He particularly acknowledged the contributions of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede.
The Army Chief also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support towards the expansion, modernisation and infrastructural development of the Nigerian Army.
He assured that the Army would continue to translate government investments into improved operational capabilities, better personnel welfare and sustainable national security.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PHDL, Major General Kevin Ukandu, disclosed that Phase 3 of the Idu housing project was already under construction and expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
Ukandu said the estate was equipped with a 2.5-kilometre asphalted road with drainage, a 500KVA transformer, solar-powered streetlights and a water reticulation system.
He reaffirmed PHDL’s commitment to expanding the programme to enable more soldiers to become homeowners before retirement.
VERSION 2
Nigerian Army Delivers 700 Houses to Soldiers as COAS Commissions 120 New Units in Abuja
The Nigerian Army has increased its affordable housing delivery to 700 units nationwide following the commissioning of 120 three-bedroom houses by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, in Abuja.
The houses, located at Idu, Abuja, were commissioned on Friday, November 13, 2026, under Phase 2 of the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS), a programme designed to provide military personnel with affordable homeownership opportunities, particularly after retirement.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shaibu said the Nigerian Army remained committed to transforming its infrastructure while ensuring that the welfare of officers, soldiers and their families received adequate attention.
He explained that the Army’s development agenda was not limited to strengthening combat readiness but also covered improved barracks accommodation, healthcare services and sustainable housing arrangements for personnel after active service.
According to him, the initiative reflects his Soldier-First Culture, which places the welfare and well-being of troops at the centre of the Army’s transformation efforts.
The COAS further revealed that five per cent of the housing units had been allocated to personnel wounded in action, describing the provision as part of the Army’s responsibility to recognise and support those who sustained injuries while defending the nation.
Giving a breakdown of the housing scheme’s achievements, Shaibu said 400 units were completed in Abuja in December 2024, 60 in Ibadan in December 2025, 80 in Jos in June 2026 and 40 in Benin City on November 6, 2026, before the latest 120 units were commissioned in Abuja.
He praised PHDL and other partners for their contributions to the success of the programme, while recognising the efforts of previous Army leadership, particularly the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja and the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede.
Shaibu also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the Nigerian Army’s modernisation and infrastructural development programmes.
He assured Nigerians that the military would sustain its efforts to improve personnel welfare, strengthen operational capacity and contribute to national security.
In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PHDL, Major General Kevin Ukandu, announced that construction of Phase 3 of the Idu housing project was ongoing, with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
He disclosed that the housing estate had essential infrastructure, including a 2.5-kilometre asphalted road with drainage, a 500KVA transformer, solar-powered streetlights and a water reticulation system.
Ukandu reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding the housing initiative and ensuring that more Nigerian Army personnel secure their own homes before retirement.
