News Investigators/ The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Friday, inaugurated a 60-unit Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) housing estate in Ibadan, Oyo State
Also inaugurated is a Post-Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL) Shopping Complex all located at Akopo, Ibadan, as part of efforts to boost troop welfare.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, on Friday in Abuja.
In his remarks, Shaibu described the initiative as a practical expression of the army’s dedication to troop welfare.
According to him, access to decent and affordable housing is central to morale, operational effectiveness, and post-service stability.
The COAS added that the AHOOAS scheme was designed to ensure that soldiers retire with dignity, enjoying secure home ownership in locations of their choice.
“The Ibadan project follows the successful pilot phase at Idu, Abuja, which delivered over 400 housing units now fully occupied by Army personnel and their families.
“Building on this success, the scheme is expanding to Ibadan, Benin, Jos, and other locations nationwide, with plans to accelerate home ownership for Army Warrant Officers,” he said.
Shaibu commended the Oyo State Government for its sustained support to military formations and praised traditional institutions for fostering peace and cooperation.
He also lauded PHDL’s management for professionalism in project delivery and acknowledged Family Homes Funds Limited for constructing 50 housing units for widows of fallen heroes.
He urged other state governments to partner in the initiative by allocating land for future phases, emphasizing that affordable housing is a key pillar of the Nigerian Army’s transformation agenda, in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.
In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of PHDL, Maj.-Gen. Isiah Alison, revealed that the Ibadan estate comprises 30 units of two-bedroom houses for junior soldiers and 30 units of three-bedroom for senior personnel.
Alison said that five percent of the houses were allocated free to soldiers who sustained severe injuries in service, while 70 per cent were offered at highly subsidised rates.
“Houses constructed at costs of up to ₦30 million are sold to soldiers for as low as ₦7.5 million.
“This is a deliberate welfare intervention, not a commercial venture,” he said.
NAN
