President Bola Tinubu has described personnel of the Nigerian Army and other military personnel as heroes, who are doing everything possible to ensure that Nigeria is safe.

“You are our heroes and I thank you for what you have been doing for our country.”

Speaking at the commissioning of the newly built Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks in Abuja, President Tinubu said: “We will not compromise your welfare. We will continue to take issues of your welfare very seriously.”

He said: “What you all are doing for us is extremely remarkable and appreciated and the only way we can show this is through continued support for men and women in uniform. We appreciate what you are doing for our country.

“Knowing that the Federal Government is always ready to provide what our troops need to fulfil their mandates is essential for winning battles.”

He charged them to ensure adequate maintenance culture to keep the accommodation.

“What we must do is continuous development with right maintenance and commitment to the welfare of our men and women in uniform.”

In his remarks, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Olufemi Oluyede, said the new barracks would  accommodate 170 officers and 444 soldiers of all ranks and their families.

Lamenting that about 40 percent of the Nigerian Army personnel were still not accommodated, he said: “Your Excellency may recall that on the assumption of the office of COAS, one of the critical issues at the table before you was the fact that about 40 percent of Nigerian Army personnel are not accommodated. The project being commissioned today is only phases one and two of the original plan.”

Oluyede said the barracks contain a total of 614 quarters adding, “In specific terms, the project comprises 16 Major General Quarters, 17 Brigadiers General 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 include the perimeter fence with 15 entrance gates, gate houses, 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 thanked the President for his unwavering support for the welfare of officers and men of the Nigerian Army. Dignitaries at the event were the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio represented by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, among others.