By Bavoriat Clara
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Nigerian Army Medal, has commissioned a 60-unit Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) Housing Estate and a Post Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL) Shopping Complex at Akobo, Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of Nigerian Army personnel.
In a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS said the project reflects the Nigerian Army’s “Soldier First” philosophy, which prioritises the welfare and well-being of personnel. Lieutenant General Shaibu noted that access to decent and affordable housing is vital to boosting troop morale, enhancing operational effectiveness and ensuring post-service stability for soldiers.
He recalled that the pilot phase of the AHOOAS project at Idu, Abuja, delivered over 400 housing units, all of which are currently occupied by soldiers and their families. According to him, the success of the pilot informed the expansion of the scheme to Ibadan, Benin, Jos, Akwa Ibom and other locations across the country, with plans underway to fast-track home ownership for Army Warrant Officers.
The COAS commended the Oyo State Government for its sustained support to military formations in the state and appreciated traditional institutions for fostering peace and cooperation. He also praised the management of PHDL for its professionalism in project execution and acknowledged Family Homes Funds Limited for partnering with the Nigerian Army to construct 50 housing units for widows of fallen soldiers.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further called on other state governments to support the housing initiative through land allocation for future phases, stressing that affordable housing remains a critical component of the Nigerian Army’s transformation agenda, in line with the vision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PHDL, Major General Isiah Alison, said the Ibadan project comprises 60 housing units, including 30 two-bedroom houses for Non-Commissioned Soldiers and 30 three-bedroom houses for Senior Non-Commissioned Soldiers. He disclosed that five per cent of the houses were allocated free of charge to soldiers who sustained disabilities in the line of duty, while 70 per cent of the units were reserved for soldiers at highly subsidised rates.
Major General Alison explained that houses constructed at costs of up to ₦30 million were sold to soldiers for as low as ₦7.5 million, describing the initiative as a welfare-driven intervention rather than a commercial venture. He added that similar housing projects are ongoing in other locations nationwide, alongside the development of service shopping complexes aimed at supporting small businesses and boosting the economic activities of soldiers’ families.
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