Army commissions 50 houses for widows of fallen heroes in Ibadan

Army commissions 50 houses for widows of fallen heroes in Ibadan

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, on Tuesday commissioned 50 housing units for widows and families of fallen military personnel in Ibadan, describing the project as a practical expression of appreciation for the sacrifices of officers and soldiers who died in service to the nation.

The houses, located at the PHDL Pacesetter Estate 4, Akobo, Ibadan, Oyo State, were commissioned by the COAS, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda.

Shuaibu said the occasion was significant because it combined the remembrance of fallen heroes with the responsibility of caring for the families they left behind.

According to him, Nigerian Army personnel operate under demanding conditions and often make significant personal sacrifices while defending the country and protecting communities.

He said although no gesture could replace the loved ones lost by the families of fallen personnel, the Army had a responsibility to ensure that such families were not forgotten.

The Army chief described the houses as more than physical structures, saying they would provide stability and dignity for the beneficiaries and create an environment where their children could grow and families could rebuild their lives.

He commended Family Homes Funds Limited for the initiative and its commitment to supporting the welfare of military personnel and their families.

He also commended the Nigerian Army Post Service Housing Development Limited for its role in completing the project.

Shuaibu assured the beneficiaries that the Nigerian Army remained mindful of the sacrifices made by their loved ones, stressing that their service remained part of the history and honour of the institution.

“These homes are, therefore, not presented as a substitute for what was lost, but as one of the ways we can stand with you and acknowledge the sacrifices that your families have made alongside them,” he said.

The COAS said the Post-Housing Army Scheme provides housing units for soldiers under a subsidised ownership arrangement, with the scheme bearing 80 per cent of the cost while serving soldiers contribute the remaining 20 per cent.

The development comprises about 60 housing units, including 30 two-bedroom flats and bungalows and 30 three-bedroom bungalows.

As part of the scheme’s support for wounded soldiers, five per cent of the completed housing units are reserved for personnel who sustained injuries in battle and are allocated to them free of charge.

Shuaibu urged the beneficiaries to take ownership of the houses and maintain them responsibly. He also called on residents of the community to promote peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and a strong sense of community.

The Chief of Army Staff expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his continued support for the welfare of members of the Armed Forces and their families.

He also appreciated the Oyo State Government, traditional institutions, partners and other stakeholders for their contributions to the project.

Shuaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the welfare of serving personnel, veterans and families of fallen heroes, saying the Army would continue to explore practical interventions to recognise their sacrifices and provide meaningful support.

After the commissioning, the COAS made a symbolic presentation of keys to the beneficiaries.

A soldier injured in battle, Lance Corporal Olufemi Olalekan, was also presented with a key to his own house.

The wounded soldier, who wore a sterile mask, reportedly returned from hospital recently after sustaining facial injuries from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Operations, Family Homes Funds Limited, Dr Henry Emeka Inegbu, who represented the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdulmutalab Mukhtar, expressed appreciation to the partners whose commitment made the 50-unit housing project possible.

He said the project, delivered under the FHFL Social Housing Programme and the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, was one of the organisation’s meaningful interventions because of the families it was designed to support.

Inegbu said the houses were more than shelters for the spouses and children of fallen servicemen, describing them as recognition of the sacrifices made by families who lost their loved ones in service to the nation.

He commended the Chief of Army Staff for his interest in the project, stressing that providing secure homes for families of fallen heroes was an acknowledgement of a national debt that could only be honoured through tangible support.

He disclosed that each of the 50 two-bedroom detached bungalows was equipped with a solar home system and connected streetlights, while industrial boreholes and a water reticulation system were provided to ensure access to clean water across the estate.

He added that a skill acquisition programme would also be implemented for the beneficiaries, particularly the women, to equip them with economic skills and promote self-reliance alongside home ownership.

The Family Homes Funds executive urged the beneficiaries to protect and maintain the houses, describing them as a foundation from which their children could build their future.

He thanked the Oyo State Government, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Post Housing Development Limited and other partners for their contributions.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Army Post-Service Housing Development Limited, Major General Kevin Ukandu, said the commissioning of the 50 housing units was not merely about providing shelter but about honouring the memory and sacrifice of fallen Nigerian Army personnel.

He said the homes were intended to provide the widows and families left behind with stability, security and dignity, stressing that although no house could replace a lost husband, father or loved one, decent accommodation could offer some measure of comfort and support.

Ukandu appreciated the Chief of Army Staff for providing the strategic leadership and enabling environment that facilitated the project. He also thanked the Oyo State Government, traditional institutions and sister security agencies for their support.

He commended Family Homes Funds Limited of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning for its partnership and commitment to the project, noting that the initiative demonstrated what could be achieved when government agencies collaborated towards a common objective.

He further commended his predecessor, Major General I.A. Alison, for his contribution to the development and completion of the project.

Ukandu reaffirmed the commitment of the Post-Service Housing Development Limited to delivering quality and affordable housing in support of the welfare objectives of the Chief of Army Staff.

He said the organisation would continue to work with state governments, government agencies and other partners on initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of military personnel, their families and those who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a widow, Mrs Grace Abiodun Adenodi, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army Post Service Housing Development Limited and Family Homes Funds Limited for providing the homes.

She said the gesture was more than the provision of houses, as it reassured the widows that the sacrifices of their fallen husbands had not been forgotten.

Adenodi prayed for God’s continued blessings on everyone who contributed to the project and for the souls of the fallen heroes to continue to rest in peace.

Personalities who graced the occasion included senior Army officers; wives of Nigerian Army officers and soldiers; the Aare Alasa, Chief Ademola Odunade, who represented the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); and Oyo government officials, among others.