COAS FLAGS OFF PHASE 2 OF BOLA AHMED TINUBU BARRACKS, RESTATES SOLDIER FIRST AGENDA

The Nigerian Army has taken another decisive step toward modern, sustainable troop housing with the groundbreaking of Phase 2 of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks in Asokoro, Abuja. The ceremony, held on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, was performed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, reinforcing the Army’s institutional focus on welfare as a cornerstone of operational readiness.

In a statement released by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the development was described as a strategic continuation of the Nigerian Army’s long term housing vision, following the successful commissioning of Phase 1 in January 2025. The statement noted that the project aligns squarely with the COAS’s command philosophy, which places troop welfare, effective administration and sustainable infrastructure at the heart of building a professional and combat-ready force.

Phase 2 of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks is conceived as a completely new barracks, distinct from the first phase commissioned earlier by President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The new development reflects a deliberate shift from temporary housing measures to enduring residential solutions capable of addressing accommodation deficits across the Army. It is designed to provide secure, dignified living spaces for soldiers and their families, while also strengthening unit cohesion and overall operational effectiveness.

The project comes at a time when the Nigerian Army is intensifying efforts to resolve long standing accommodation challenges nationwide. The initiative underscores the Army’s resolve to complete ongoing residential projects while simultaneously initiating new ones that meet modern standards and future demands. Central to this effort is the Soldier First philosophy, which recognizes that stability on the home front is essential to mission success on the battlefield.
Providing project details, the Coordinator of Nigerian Army Special Projects, Major General Bayode Adetoro, revealed that while Phase 1 of the barracks provided accommodation for 614 personnel, Phase 2 is projected to house approximately 1,800 personnel upon completion. He described the project as a tangible expression of the COAS’s welfare driven leadership approach, aimed at improving the quality of life of Nigerian Army personnel and reinforcing morale across formations.
The Nigerian Army also reaffirmed its appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained support and funding of the project, while restating the unwavering loyalty of its officers and men to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.