The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has renovated 78 flats for Senior officers to avoid choking up due to CoronaVirus Pandemic in 9brigade, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Onigbongbo, Barracks, Onigbongbo, Maryland, area of Lagos State Southwest Nigeria.

The General Officer Commanding 81 Division Major General JO Irefin on behalf of Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai commissioned 2 blocks of 39 flats per block totalling 78 flats at transit quarters for officers.

The COAS deployed resources to expeditiously complete construction work at the quarters, to enable erstwhile squatting officers to decongest the shared accommodation and occupy their own flats in fulfilment of the requirement for social distancing towards containing the ravaging COVID-19.

Other efforts made so far by 9Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Etsu Awal Musa Ndagi, to curtail the spread of the virus within the cantonment include an enlightenment program for Non-Commission Officers, Magajias (women leaders)and youth leaders within the cantonment.
Emphasis was made on social distancing and the need for an exceptionally high standard of hygiene, to include regular washing of hands, use of hand sanitizer, face masks, sanitary gloves among others, was made.

In addition, water points have been established at designated entrances to the cantonment, to enable troops on duty and necessary visitors wash their hands and get treated to the hand sanitizer and infrared thermometer precautionary measures to contain the pandemic.

Major General JO Irefin said, that “this is another epoch ceremony in the analysis of Ikeja cantonment. This is about the third time I am coming to commission an accommodation facility like his in Ikeja. So this brigade has been very lucky with the present Chief.”

The Chief has been very generous to this division since I came here as GOC. What is required of us is to remain loyal and dedicated. we must make efforts to at all point maintain these houses. They are all your houses, they are no more Army houses, which is the impression we normally have.

“This accommodation is no longer Army accommodation. It is now your accommodation. Treat it the way you will treat your own property. It is now your property. And prolong the lifespan of this accommodation. Accommodation can not be renovated on a yearly basis. You all know the extent of decay before this Chief came in and all his efforts since he came in, improving on our infrastructure, not only accommodation.”

“Immediately the Chief heard that this building had been completed yesterday but not inhabited, he told me in the night to ensure it is commissioned immediately and officers here are relocated with immediate effect. This accommodation will be given to those who were staying there before. It is only when people were posted out that they will not be allocated. You are to go back to the same room you were before,” he stated.

Also speaking,45 Engineer Brigade Commander, Brigadier General A A Salako, said, that,” It strives for professional competence as enshrined in his vision to have a professional and responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of their constitutional role.

“The Chief of Army Staff has consistently ensured personal welfare by creating befitting accommodation for personals. It was on this note that he authorised the renovation of this complex in June 2019. It is a great pleasure for me to mention the scope of work, that was carried out during this renovation.

“The renovation started in 2019, with the partitioning of the entire works, creation of verandas, removing, and re-roofing of leakages, complete change of plumbing system, provision of water, two 200 KVA Generator was installed.

“POP construction were also Carried out, wardrobes, toilets, were also done. Added values that included complete furnishing of the 78flats were carried out under the supervision of 45 Engineer Brigade.