Stories by Musa Umar Bologi
Abuja
One hundred and thirty eight soldiers of 13 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Calabar, Cross River State, and their families have benefited from the Chief of Army Staff Accommodation Intervention Project.
The accommodation, which was the second and third phases of the project, was inaugurated in Calabar at weekend, and comprises of 49 single and 52 one -bedroom flats respectively.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the project was aimed at phasing out shanties from Army barracks across the country.
Buratai had in February 26, inaugurated the first phase of the project, which comprised 37 flats, at Akim Baracks, Calabar.
The army chief was represented at the inauguration of the facility by the Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Jemitola.
He said: “After commissioning the first phase of the project earlier in February this year; I must say that I am delighted to be here again to commission the second and third phases of the project.
“With what I am seeing on ground in this barracks, the Commander of 13 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, has done very well.
“Biu was prudent with the resources at his disposal and was thorough in the supervision of the projects, after watching the different documentaries that this project underwent.
“It is imperative that officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army are given befitting accommodation in line with the vision of my leadership.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Biu said the barrack was established in 1912, and shanties in the barracks had existed for years. He said shanties had to be demolished to give way to new modern structures, with a view to giving the barracks a face-lift.
He said: “Soldiers of this barracks have lived in the shanties for decades, but as we can all see, we have declared an obituary for the shanties.
“Regimes over regimes, committees over committees, for several years, could not address the problem, but the COAS who has the interest of the troops at heart had done a great job.
“The history of shanties in this barracks is buried for life. I am happy to announce today that the COAS has provided accommodation for 138 soldiers and their families in this barracks.”
