By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said the Nigerian Army have commenced an Affordable House Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) scheme under which two and three bedroom houses will be provided to subscribing soldiers.
Gen. Lagbaja who was represented by the Commander 4 Special Forces Command, Maj. Gen. Hillary Nzan disclosed this on Tuesday at a workshop organized by the Directorate of Inspections and Compliance, Office of the Chief of Army Staff in Makurdi said that measures are in place to ensure that the scheme did not go the way of the previous schemes.
“Similar schemes are ongoing for officers and we are trying to facilitate one-digit interest rate loans for our personnel to help them fulfill their home-ownership dream. Our medical services are also getting due attention for our troops and their families to access top-notch medicare while we are upscaling our educational facilities to bring back the glorious days of Nigerian Army schools”.
The COAS added that, “these and several other welfare efforts are my focus to keep the morale of our troops high as they discharge their duties. I have also given attention to the renovation, upgrading and equipping of the Nigerian Army medical facilities most especially the Nigerian Army Reference Hospitals in both Kaduna and Yaba”.
He said that the aim was to enable them compete favourably with international medical facilities and at the same time deliver top-notch medical services to the troops and their families.
He reminded the inspection officers that they must all know that the sustainment of the drive required efficient project planning and monitoring as supervisors, inspectors and evaluators.
“You must therefore play your part efficiently to ensure no project is neglected. I commend the Director and Staff of the Directorate of Inspections and Compliance for organizing this workshop to prepare those involved. You must therefore ensure the workshop impact on your activities accordingly,” he said.
Earlier, the Director of Inspection and Compliance, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Jallo, said that the workshop sought to equip the participants with requisite knowledge and skills in the art of project monitoring and evaluation.
Jallo stated that the overall objective was to ensure that Nigerian Army projects were executed in accordance with national regulations based on international standards and best practices.
The theme of the workshop was “Effective Utilization of the Inspection and Compliance Machinery: to be An Efficient Tool for Project Management in the Nigerian Army to the Attainment of a Sound Administration of Troops towards Achieving our Constitutional Responsibility within a Joint Environment”.
