The 13th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, Cross Rivers State, yesterday, handed over keys to a block of 32 flats to soldiers at Akim Army Barracks in Calabar.
The project which was initiated by the Commander of the Brigade, Brig-Gen. Bulama Biu and supported by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, commenced in November 2016 and so far, 116 ,68 flats have been completed in the first and second phases with 48 to go in the last phase. Speaking with journalists after handing over the keys to the beneficiaries, Biu noted that the COAS was interested in the welfare of soldiers. According to him: “The situation was that of total loss of hope before the inception this project, as soldiers had lived under very terrible conditions for decades. No one ever believed that the soldiers’ living standard could improve.” this barracks has been in existence since 1912. “The leadership is showing commitment to the institution you belong, which is what the Chief of Army Staff is doing. Our soldiers have been living in makeshift houses popularly known as ‘’batchers” for many years and this is capable of dampening the morale of any human being. With the magnanimity of the COAS, our story has changed,” he stated. He assured that they will remain duty focused and in very high spirit as a way of showing appreciation for the gesture of the COAS. One of the beneficiaries, Ine Lazarus Amamina who spoke with Vanguard, said that they used to live with snakes, centipedes and rats before now, but all that has changed with the construction of a block of flats. Another beneficiary, Mrs Hafizat Hamza told Vanguard that she had lost counts of how many times she had to wake up at night because of snakes but all that was now in the past because she and her children are moving into a new house.
