The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shu’aibu, has inaugurated three fully renovated blocks of family flats for soldiers at Ribadu Cantonment in Kaduna, marking a significant boost to accommodation for troops and their dependants.

Each of the refurbished blocks contains 30 apartments, providing a total of 90 family flats. The project is part of a broader effort by the Nigerian Army to upgrade living conditions in its barracks and tackle long-standing housing deficits affecting personnel.

Shu’aibu, represented at the ceremony by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division and Commander, Sector 1, Operation Fansan Yamma, Major General Abubakar Wase, said the initiative reflects the Army leadership’s resolve to place welfare at the centre of its operational readiness.

He explained that the buildings had been in use for years but had fallen into serious disrepair, forcing the relocation of occupants so that comprehensive renovation could be carried out. According to him, funds were specifically approved to restore the blocks as part of his vision to ensure that soldiers and their families live in safe, dignified accommodation.

The Army chief noted that the Ribadu Cantonment project is one of several renovation schemes currently being executed across formations nationwide, alongside the construction of new housing units designed to ease pressure on overstretched barracks infrastructure.

Shu’aibu urged the new occupants to take ownership of the facilities and maintain them responsibly, stressing that the long-term sustainability of such investments depends on how well they are preserved by residents.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Fumilayo Yonde, a resident of Block 20, expressed gratitude to the Army authorities for what she described as a life-changing intervention. She recalled that before the renovation, families lived under constant anxiety as parts of the old structure deteriorated and debris occasionally fell from weakened sections of the building.

Yonde said the renovated flats have restored a sense of safety and dignity to the residents, and pledged that they would work together to keep the facilities in good condition. She also offered prayers for continued wisdom and success for the Army leadership as it pursues further welfare projects.

The renovation work at Ribadu Cantonment was completed within three months, underscoring the Army’s drive to fast-track improvements in the living standards of its personnel.