Army Chief Hands Over Houses To 30 Soldiers In Lagos

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, has handed over the keys to the newly built Marda Barracks housing units in Yaba, Lagos, to 30 soldiers of the rank of corporal and below.

The Army chief, represented at the occasion by the commander, Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (CCEME), Major General Adeyinka Ayodeji Adereti, said the project was a practical interpretation of the COAS Command Philosophy, which recognises that the strength of the Nigerian Army resides in the well-being, morale and readiness of its soldiers.

He said access to decent accommodation was fundamental to achieving operational efficiency and sustaining a motivated force.

While congratulating the soldiers, the Army chief commended the CEO of MessageWise Limited, Dr Henry Nzekwu, for overseeing the project.

MessageWise, a firm specialising in building projects and infrastructure, commenced work on the Marda Barracks housing in 2025 and completed it in record time.

The project, handed over to the Army in February this year, was among several housing initiatives the company has executed for the Nigerian Army.

At the event, Yetunde Esan, the general manager, Corporate Affairs and Business Development of the company, expressed joy that the organisation had become an integral partner in the Army’s drive to improve the living standards of soldiers and their families.

The acting commander of 1 Base Workshop, Colonel C. O. Iruegbukpe, explained that the barracks hold a unique place in the Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NAEME), as it is the only NAEME barracks outside the Corps School.

Iruegbekpe said, “It is not just a new building, it is a new standard that has given a renewed sense of pride for soldiers and their families in this barracks.”

He also appreciated the quality and standard of the accommodation being commissioned, as they represent a clear improvement in personnel’s living conditions.