By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor
There was a country, so said by late author, Prof. Chinua Achebe, by his last book. In this report, this can be changed to “there was a barrack and there is a barrack”. The “was” connotes the ugly past of a barrack of study, which is the Akim Barracks of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Calabar, while the “is” implies the now beautiful look and conduciveness of the same Barracks following the 36 flats accommodation intervention with which the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai, has transformed the place, having been diligently supervised and perfectly completed by the Commander of the Brigade, Brig Gen Bulama Biu.
It is naturally the expectation of any person that soldiers, who are mainstay of the overall security of the nation, would be provided with befitting accommodation as an enabler for making them concentrate their minds for the national defence. For a long time past, it was not the case for occupants of Akim Barracks of the 13 Brigade Calabar until the emergence of the current dispensation.
Akim Barracks, which used to wear the environmental look of shanties or slums, with very demoralizing feel to the soldiers and their families occupying same, has turned to now being an environment so gladdening to the hearts of the occupants and admiration of people from far and near. They are, therefore in appreciation of their new accommodation status, saying “thank you” to both the big boss, Buratai, and the Commander, Biu, for now making lives worthwhile as they now begin to see themselves as counted in the society they have put their best at defending.
The 36-flat project was recently constructed for soldiers of the 13 Brigade Calabar and had since been commissioned for immediate us
Another old block of the Barracks where soldiers lived.
Behold! The new face of Akim Barracks 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, Cross Rivers State. The 36-flat accommodation intervention of Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Buratai, supervised and completed by Commander, 13 Brigade, was commissioned by the COAS.
Behold! Another new face of Akim Barracks 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, Cross River State. The 36-flat accommodation intervention of Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Buratai, supervised and completed by Commander, 13 Brigade, was commissioned by the COAS.
e by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai.
In his address during the commissioning ceremony, General Buratai commended the Commander 13 Brigade, Brigadier General Bulama Biu, for working tirelessly to see that the project was realised and promised to accord priority to troops’ welfare.
In realisation of his vision “To have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles”, General Buratai promised a robust medical care for troops and their families even as stated that, last year, he directed the downward review of education cost in all Army schools.
In a statement by Assistant Director Public Relations, 13 Brigade Nigerian Army Calabar, Captain KO Owolabi,
“The COAS pointed out that while kitting and accommodation would continue to receive attention of his Army administration, the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities will remain top priority.”
The Commander 13 Brigade, Brigadier General Bulama Biu in his welcome address thanked the Army chief for providing funds with which the barracks buildings were transformed from the ugly structure of the past to the good structures of the present and described General Buratai as “a great military leader whose passion for troops’ welfare is unprecedented.”
General Biu revealed that over 200 soldiers and families had for a long time lived in dilapidated, inhabited batch and attributed the situation to a long period of neglect.
The Govornor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade in his address commended the effort of the COAS and the Brigade Commander, Bulama Biu, for providing enabling environment for their troops to put in their best.
Governor Ayade also commended the Nigerian Army for their troops’ fight against terrorism and other criminality across the country and promised to support the activated effort by building one block accommodation and furniture for the Brigade.
Meanwhile, in appreciation of the 36 flats made possible for them by his administration of the Nigerian Army, officers, soldiers and entire families of the newly rebuilt Akim Barracks in the 13 Brigade Calabar recently organized special Jumat Service and Church Service in honour of the Chief of Army Staff, General Buratai.
The officers, soldiers and their families who were before now living in a dilapidated building were thankful to God for kind gesture of the COAS by building and allocating them befitting accommodation.
It would be recalled that the COAS on 25 Feb this year, along with the Governor of Cross River State Prof Ben Ayade commissioned 36 flats of soldiers accommodation in the barracks, while other accommodations were ongoing and some are in advanced stage of completion.
