Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Waidi Shaibu,
In a renewed effort to improve the welfare of personnel, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, yesterday, formally commissioned and handed over the keys to the newly built Marda Barracks housing units in Yaba, Lagos.
The housing units were allocated to 30 soldiers of the Nigerian Army of the rank of corporal and below.
The COAS was represented at the ceremony by the Commander, Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (CCEME), Major General Adeyinka Ayodeji Adereti, who stated that 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 added that access to a decent accommodation is fundamental to achieving operational efficiency and sustaining a motivated force.
While congratulating the soldiers of the barracks, Major General Adereti also commended the CEO of MessageWise Limited, Dr. Henry Nzekwu, the infrastructure company responsible for the project, for timely delivering the housing units. MessageWise, a firm that specialises 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, is among several housing initiatives the company has executed for the Nigerian Army.
Speaking at the event, Yetunde Esan, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Business Development of the foremost strategy and communications company which has recently expanded its competencies into civil construction, infrastructure and specialised technology services, expressed joy that the company had become an integral partner in the Army’s drive to improve the living standards of soldiers and their families.
The acting Commander 1 Base Workshop, Colonel C. O. Iruegbukpe, who also spoke at the handover and formal commissioning ceremony, explained that the barracks holds 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 birthed a renewed sense of pride for soldiers and their families in this barracks.” He also appreciated the quality and standard of accommodation being commissioned as it represents a clear improvement in the living conditions of personnel.
The official handover ceremony was witnessed by Commander Corps of Ordnance, Major General AG Ibrahim, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General A.A. Babalola, representatives of Commanders Corps of Engineers, Signals, Supply and Transport, Medicals and Education and other senior officers, as well as members of the Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives’ Association, Marda Barracks.
The commissioning of the Marda Barracks housing unit underscores the Army’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of its personnel, while also highlighting the importance of collaboration between military units and private sector partners in delivering critical infrastructure.
