Army Chief Pledges Better Housing, Family Support For 18 Brigade Troops
By ABDUL AHMED (A. A.) RUFUS
Operational Readiness Through Welfare
THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has restated the Nigerian Army’s resolve to strengthen welfare support systems for officers and soldiers, stressing that operational success on the battlefield is inseparable from decent living conditions off it.
He made the declaration during an on-the-spot interaction with troops of 18 Brigade at Latini Barracks, Bida, Niger State, where he assessed conditions, heard concerns, and outlined fresh interventions aimed at boosting morale and combat efficiency.
In a statement released by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS described welfare and family wellbeing as “core pillars of professionalism,” adding that the Army must protect not only the nation’s territorial integrity but also the dignity of those who defend it.
General Shaibu praised the brigade for maintaining relative peace in its Area of Responsibility, despite rising asymmetric threats. He urged troops to sustain pressure on bandits and terrorists, particularly in vulnerable communities around Niger State’s axis, assuring them of continued leadership support, improved logistics, and expanded operational resources.
Among the new measures announced were plans for additional troop accommodation and the establishment of skills acquisition centres tailored to empower soldiers’ spouses and children economically. He also confirmed that family support initiatives, long demanded by welfare advocates within the force, are now being scaled to reduce dependency and strengthen household stability during long deployments.
Security analysts observing the engagement say the Army’s renewed welfare focus reflects lessons learned from prolonged internal operations, where fatigue, housing deficits, and family economic strain have previously undermined troop morale. The COAS’s stance suggests a deliberate shift toward stabilising the home front as a strategy for sustaining battlefield endurance.
