By Augustine Ehikioya
Boosting personnel welfare, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has performed groundbreaking ceremony of NA Mass Housing Development Project Phase 2 at the Army Command Estate Asokoro, Abuja.
The ceremony is part of efforts to build affordable housing units for personnel of the Nigerian Army (NA) across the country.
General Yahaya, according to a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA) said that the initiative to embark on the mass housing development project is to assuage the housing challenges faced by personnel after retirement.
The statement reads “He noted that due to the introduction of reasonable discounts by the Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL) in favour of its personnel, the project will no doubt provide the necessary succour of post-retirement housing.
“General Yahaya added that the project is one of the mass housing projects embarked upon by the NA across the country for the benefit of both serving personnel and the general public.
“The COAS reiterated that the initiative was in line with his cardinal mission of making the welfare of personnel a priority to transform the NA as aptly captured in his vision.
“He added that this has partly informed his drive in the construction and rehabilitation of numerous facilities across NA formations and units, ranging from living accommodations, office complexes, training schools, and other support facilities in the Barracks.
“General Yahaya further stated that the ongoing NA infrastructural intervention at the Army Command Estate Asokoro will inevitably crash the teething accommodation challenges for NA personnel,” the statement said.
The COAS, in another development, has commissioned newly constructed Headquarters Directorate of Legal Services (Army) to “properly position the Directorate to provide the needed conducive environment for effective service delivery in support of the NA.”
The Army Chief, it said, stressed that over time, the Directorate of Legal Service has grown and distinguished itself in the temple of justice.
“He added that the effort of the Directorate in providing timely and balanced legal advice and services contributed to the overall drive of the NA in carrying out her constitutional responsibilities within the ambit of the law,” it stated.
Among those who graced the occasion included former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai rtd, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Honourable Justice Binta Nyako, Vice Chairman, Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Lt Gen Lamidi Adeosun rtd, Principal Staff Officers from Army Headquarters and former Directors of the Directorate.
Also present at the event are the Group Managing Directors of the Services Properties Limited, Managing Director of Continental Civil and General Construction Company, among several other distinguished guests.
