Nigerian Army Delivers 700 Houses to Soldiers as COAS Commissions 120 New Units in Abuja
The Nigerian Army has increased its affordable housing delivery to 700 units nationwide following the commissioning of 120 three-bedroom houses by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, in Abuja.
The houses, located at Idu, Abuja, were commissioned on Friday, November 13, 2026, under Phase 2 of the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS), a programme designed to provide military personnel with affordable homeownership opportunities, particularly after retirement.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shaibu said the Nigerian Army remained committed to transforming its infrastructure while ensuring that the welfare of officers, soldiers and their families received adequate attention.
He explained that the Army’s development agenda was not limited to strengthening combat readiness but also covered improved barracks accommodation, healthcare services and sustainable housing arrangements for personnel after active service.
According to him, the initiative reflects his Soldier-First Culture, which places the welfare and well-being of troops at the centre of the Army’s transformation efforts.
The COAS further revealed that five per cent of the housing units had been allocated to personnel wounded in action, describing the provision as part of the Army’s responsibility to recognise and support those who sustained injuries while defending the nation.
Giving a breakdown of the housing scheme’s achievements, Shaibu said 400 units were completed in Abuja in December 2024, 60 in Ibadan in December 2025, 80 in Jos in June 2026 and 40 in Benin City on November 6, 2026, before the latest 120 units were commissioned in Abuja.
He praised PHDL and other partners for their contributions to the success of the programme, while recognising the efforts of previous Army leadership, particularly the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja and the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede.
Shaibu also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the Nigerian Army’s modernisation and infrastructural development programmes.
He assured Nigerians that the military would sustain its efforts to improve personnel welfare, strengthen operational capacity and contribute to national security.
In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PHDL, Major General Kevin Ukandu, announced that construction of Phase 3 of the Idu housing project was ongoing, with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
He disclosed that the housing estate had essential infrastructure, including a 2.5-kilometre asphalted road with drainage, a 500KVA transformer, solar-powered streetlights and a water reticulation system.
Ukandu reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding the housing initiative and ensuring that more Nigerian Army personnel secure their own homes before retirement.
