COAS Commissions Housing Estate in Ibadan, Reserves Five Percent for Wounded Soldiers

In a significant boost to troop welfare and post-service security, the Nigerian Army has commissioned a new housing estate comprising 60 residential units in Akobo, Ibadan, Oyo State, with a special provision that allocates five percent of the houses free of charge to soldiers who sustained disabilities while serving the nation. The initiative underscores the Army’s growing emphasis on personnel welfare, dignity in retirement, and long-term stability for its troops and their families.

The housing estate, made up of two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats, was inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, as part of the Nigerian Army’s Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) Housing Scheme. Under the scheme, 70 percent of the housing units have been reserved for serving soldiers at highly subsidized rates, making home ownership more accessible to personnel across various ranks.

According to a statement issued by the Army’s spokesperson, Colonel Apollonia Anele, the project is one of several ongoing interventions aimed at improving the living conditions, morale, and post-retirement prospects of Nigerian soldiers. In addition to the residential estate, a shopping complex was also inaugurated under the Post Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL), designed to support small businesses and generate sustainable income opportunities for serving and retired personnel as well as their families.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Lieutenant General Shaibu described affordable housing as a cornerstone of the Nigerian Army’s transformation agenda, aligned with the broader vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. He emphasized that access to decent housing is not merely a welfare issue, but a strategic necessity that directly affects troop morale, operational effectiveness, and long-term stability after service.

“The AHOOAS scheme is designed to ensure that soldiers retire in dignity, with secure home ownership in locations of their choice,” the Army Chief stated. He added that soldiers who are confident about their future are better motivated to perform their duties with dedication and professionalism.

General Shaibu explained that the expansion of the housing scheme to Ibadan, Benin, Jos, Akwa Ibom, and other locations across the country was informed by the success of the pilot phase in Idu, Abuja, which delivered over 400 housing units. He also disclosed that plans are underway to fast-track access to home ownership for Army Warrant Officers, further broadening the scheme’s reach.

The COAS commended the Oyo State Government for its sustained support to military formations within the state, as well as traditional institutions for fostering peaceful coexistence between the military and host communities. He called on other state governments to support future phases of the scheme by allocating land, noting that such partnerships are essential to scaling the initiative nationwide.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Post Service Housing Development Limited, Major General Isiah Alison, provided further details on the project. He disclosed that the 60 housing units consist of 30 two-bedroom flats designed for Non-Commissioned Officers and 30 three-bedroom flats intended for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers.

According to him, five percent of the houses were allocated free of charge to soldiers who sustained disabilities in the line of duty, while 70 percent were sold to soldiers at heavily subsidized rates. He revealed that houses constructed at costs of up to ₦30 million were made available to soldiers for as low as ₦7.5 million, stressing that the project was conceived as a welfare intervention rather than a profit-driven venture.

Major General Alison also highlighted similar ongoing housing projects in other parts of the country, alongside service-oriented shopping complexes aimed at stimulating local economic activity and supporting the livelihoods of troops’ families. He further acknowledged Family Homes Funds Limited for partnering with the Nigerian Army to construct 50 housing units specifically for widows of fallen soldiers.

The commissioning of the Akobo housing estate represents a concrete step toward institutionalizing soldier welfare beyond active service. For many observers, the most impactful aspect of the initiative remains the free allocation of homes to wounded soldiers—a gesture that recognizes the sacrifices of those who paid a permanent price in defense of national security.

As the Nigerian Army continues to confront complex security challenges across the country, initiatives such as the AHOOAS housing scheme signal a deliberate effort to place soldiers’ welfare at the center of military reform, reinforcing the principle that those who defend the nation deserve security, dignity, and support in return.