The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas on Wednesday said that the Nigerian Navy has only been able to provide permanent accommodation for about 6,000 of its personnel representing barely 30% of its total welfare needs.
The Naval boss who was speaking during the commissioning of the Nigerian Navy Officers quarters at Kubwa which would house about 66 officers and the their families noted that if deliberate steps are not taken to address the accommodation needs of officers, it would only worsen.
Rear Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas who appealed to the Ministry of Defence to accord the Nigerian Navy appropriate considerations in the intervention projects of barracks provisions added about 70% of its personnel welfare needs were unmet resulting in significant gaps in the accommodation needs of both officers and men in the country.
He said: “for instance the Nigerian Navy is only able to cater for permanent accommodation of 6,000 of its personnel which represent less than 30% of its total accommodation needs.
“Additionally due to the peculiarities of military deployments, transfer accommodations are also required for personnel serving outside locations of their permanent residence.
“To this end only about 4,500 personnel which is less than 40% of the required transit accommodation has been achieved. With a projected annual needs of about 2,500 ratings and 200 officers the accommodation situation will continue to worsen, if deliberate steps are not taken in the short and medium terms to match intake”.
He assured Naval personnel that one of the compelling developmental objectives in the NN transformation plan is instituting affordable housing ownership schemes for personnel and provision of adequate accommodation.
Earlier the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Nuratu Batagarawa while commissioning the project, said that the she hoped that the accommodation would boost the morale and operational efficiency of the personnel towards contributing positively towards enhancing improved maritime security and nation building.
Speaking on the accommodation challenges of the Navy, Batagarawa said, “in view of the NN peculiar inadequate barrack accommodation situation, more consideration will need to be given to ensure delivery of more living quarters to NN personnel.
“Our ability to account for the funds spent on this project makes it easier to attract more government funding.
She urged the officers to justify the investments of the housing through reciprocating the gesture by raising to the challenges of consolidating national security.