The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned critical medical facilities at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (44 NARH) and newly completed officers’ accommodation at Ribadu Cantonment in Kaduna State.
The projects are aimed at strengthening combat medical support, improving troop welfare and enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
At the 44 NARH, Lieutenant General Shaibu commissioned the newly completed Waidi Shaibu Critical Care Centre and a modern helipad designed to facilitate the rapid evacuation of wounded personnel from operational theatres to definitive medical care.
The COAS described the facilities as strategic interventions aimed at reducing casualty evacuation time, improving survival and recovery rates and sustaining troop morale.
He stressed that timely access to quality medical care remained critical to maintaining combat effectiveness and operational readiness.
“The strength of any fighting force is not measured by weapons alone, but also by the quality of care given to those who bear the burden of national security,” Shaibu said.
He explained that the Critical Care Centre was equipped to handle trauma, intensive care and other complex medical cases, reducing the need to refer critically injured or ill personnel outside military medical facilities.
The COAS commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, for initiating and overseeing the helipad and other projects during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
He described the helipad as a critical enabler that would significantly reduce the time required to move wounded personnel from the frontline to advanced medical care.
Shaibu directed the relevant medical and aviation units to maintain round-the-clock operational readiness and ensure proper maintenance and optimal utilisation of the facilities.
At Ribadu Cantonment, the COAS also commissioned newly completed blocks of flats for officers, describing decent accommodation as an essential component of personnel welfare and a key factor in boosting morale, professionalism and operational effectiveness.
He commended General Oluyede for his foresight and commitment to addressing accommodation challenges, noting that the project formed part of efforts to progressively reduce the accommodation deficit across Army formations and units.
Lieutenant General Shaibu subsequently inspected ongoing construction of additional accommodation for soldiers within the cantonment.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress and standard of work and directed engineers and contractors to maintain quality and adhere strictly to approved timelines.
The COAS assured officers and soldiers that the Nigerian Army would continue to prioritise welfare, medical infrastructure, accommodation and training as critical enablers of operational effectiveness and institutional resilience.