Army presents keys of one bedroom flats each to 22 soldiers

Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade headquarters, Calabar, Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu, has presented one bed room flat keys each to twenty two soldiers from ranks of corporal in the command. Bulama, while presenting the keys on Tuesday in calabar said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai had, on the 24th of November last year, commissioned about thirty two blocks of flat because, according to him, the shanties were an eyesore in the barracks.
“You must all thank the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai for making sure that new buildings emerge from the shanties which have been standing here since 1912 when this barracks was established. This new accommodation is a show of determination and commitment to change the story of soldiers who have been yearning for this moment for years”
“We are indeed grateful to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai for changing the face of this barracks. It is amazing that a barrack that has been neglected for more than 105 years can change suddenly, with modern accommodation and other modern facilities. One will therefore expect you to reciprocate this gesture by committing yourself to the service of the country” Bulama said the Chief of Army Staff’s direct labor concept played a key role in facilitating the completion of the projects, explaining that this was to boost the morale of men and officers of the army.
According to the Brigade Commander, the next phase of the project would have forty eight flat which will include a storey building with twenty two flats and some bungalows, a project he said was dear to the heart of Burutai who is desirous of giving army barracks a facelift in order to boost the morale of soldiers.
Reacting, soldiers blew the trumpets in jubilation as modern and befitting accommodation were allocated to them, while also celebrating the demolition of the shanties in the barracks, popularly known as “Batchers” The soldiers, many of whom had lived in the shanties for years, shed tears of joy when the Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu handed them the keys to their one-bedroom apartments.