Nigeria Army Chief Urges Private Sector Investment in Military Infrastructure

Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, appealed to the private sector to fund military infrastructure, troop welfare and veterans' support. The call was made during a meeting with Dr. Ubon Udoh, Managing Director and CEO of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), at the Army Headquarters in Abuja. Shaibu lauded Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu and the BUA Group for their ongoing contributions to the armed forces, noting that investments in rural road networks improve troop mobility, logistics, stimulate local economies and limit criminal groups' hideouts.

He stressed that quality healthcare and comprehensive welfare for injured soldiers and retirees are essential for morale and combat effectiveness. Shaibu also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions and urged other corporations to follow ASR Africa’s example by investing in accommodation, medical facilities and veteran programs. ASR Africa disclosed it is implementing a ₦2 billion portion of its ₦10 billion Security Sector Support allocation.