Nigerian Army Advances Soldier Welfare with Affordable Housing Initiative in Ibadan
Nigerian Army Launches 60-Unit Affordable Housing Estate in Ibadan for Soldiers
The Nigerian Army has inaugurated a 60-unit housing estate under its Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) programme in Ibadan, alongside a Post Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL) shopping complex. The project underscores the Army’s ongoing commitment to personnel welfare and post-service stability.
The commissioning ceremony, led by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen Waidi Shaibu, reflects the strategic emphasis on the “Soldier First” philosophy. Speaking at the event, Shaibu highlighted the significance of accessible and secure housing in boosting troop morale, operational efficiency, and post-retirement wellbeing.
The Ibadan project follows the successful pilot phase in Idu, Abuja, where over 400 units were completed and fully allocated to serving personnel and their families. The demonstrated success of the pilot informed the expansion of AHOOAS to strategic locations, including Benin, Jos, Akwa Ibom, and other states. Plans are also underway to extend the programme to Army Warrant Officers, ensuring broader coverage of the military community.
Shaibu commended the Oyo State Government for supporting military initiatives, as well as traditional authorities for fostering local cooperation. He also recognised PHDL’s project management expertise and the contribution of Family Homes Funds Limited, which facilitated the construction of 50 housing units for widows of fallen soldiers.
Project Structure and Allocation
Maj-Gen Isiah Alison, Managing Director of PHDL, provided technical details of the Ibadan estate. The 60-unit development comprises 30 two-bedroom units for junior non-commissioned officers and 30 three-bedroom units for senior non-commissioned personnel. 5% of the units are allocated free of charge to soldiers disabled in the line of duty, while 70% are offered at heavily subsidised rates.
Construction costs for the units, which could reach up to N30 million, were deliberately reduced for beneficiaries, with prices starting at N7.5 million. Alison emphasised that the initiative is a welfare programme rather than a commercial venture, designed to provide long-term security and financial relief to military families.
Alongside housing, the project includes a PHDL shopping complex aimed at promoting small business activity and local economic engagement for soldiers’ families. The initiative is part of a broader Army transformation agenda aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s national vision, which integrates welfare, infrastructure development, and social support systems for uniformed personnel.
Strategic Implications
The AHOOAS scheme represents a critical component of Nigeria’s military welfare policy. By securing affordable housing for serving and retired personnel, the programme reduces post-service economic vulnerability and enhances overall morale. The model combines strategic public-private partnerships, state-level support, and targeted financial subsidies, offering a replicable framework for welfare-oriented infrastructure development in other sectors.
