By Emma Nnadozie

…Praises MessageWise For Prompt Completion

In a renewed effort to improve personnel welfare, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, yesterday formally commissioned and handed over the keys to the newly built housing units at Marda Barracks in Yaba, Lagos.

The housing units have been allocated to 30 soldiers of the Nigerian Army, of corporal rank 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 demonstration of the COAS’s command philosophy, which recognises that the strength of the Nigerian Army lies in the well-being, morale and readiness of its soldiers.

He added that access to decent accommodation is fundamental to achieving operational efficiency and maintaining a motivated force.

While congratulating the soldiers on their new homes, Major General Adereti also commended Dr. Henry Nzekwu, CEO of MessageWise Limited – the infrastructure company responsible for the project – for delivering the housing units promptly.

MessageWise, a firm specialising in building projects and infrastructure, began 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 one of several housing initiatives the company has undertaken for the Nigerian Army.

Speaking at the event, Yetunde Esan, General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Business Development of the leading strategy and communications company – which has recently expanded its competencies into civil construction, infrastructure and specialised technology services – expressed her delight 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 commissioning ceremony, explained that the Barracks holds a unique position within the Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NAEME), as it is the only NAEME barracks not located at the Corps school. Colonel Iruegbukpe said, “This is not just a new building; it represents a new standard and has fostered a renewed sense of pride for soldiers and their families in this barracks.”

He also appreciated the quality and standard of the accommodation, noting that it represents a clear improvement in personnel living conditions.

The official handover ceremony was witnessed by the Commander, Corps of Ordnance, Major General AG Ibrahim; the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General A.A. Babalola; representatives of the Commanders of the Corps of Engineers, Signals, Supply and Transport, Medicals and Education; other senior officers; and members of the Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association, Marda Barracks.

The commissioning of the Marda Barracks housing underscores the Army’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of its personnel, and highlights the importance of collaboration between military units and private sector partners in delivering critical infrastructure.