CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The Nigerian Armed Forces were established to protect Nigeria
against external aggressors and observers note that the forces have
performed their duties creditability ever since their establishment.
Analysts, however, underscore the need for the government to provide a
good working environment especially in the area of decent accommodation
for the military so as to facilitate its efforts to give quality
service delivery (Adeniyi, 2004).
It has been observed all over the country that
most of the barracks of the armed forces are currently in a derelict
state, while several soldiers are not quartered in barracks. This is
not to suggest that the Federal Government of Nigeria has not been
mindful of the accommodation needs of the armed forces, as it has
initiated some interventionist measures to ensure the soldiers’
wellbeing. For instance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo inaugurated
the Presidential Committee on Barracks Rehabilitation (PCBR) in 2001
to oversee efforts to rehabilitate military barracks across the country
(Vanguard, 2011).
Housing has been recognized to be in the same
category with air, food and clothing as a basic necessity of life
(Okpala, 1985). It’s basic function is to protect man against the
weather and to guarantee him some security against marauders. Housing
is one of the major problems facing the Nigerian military. Housing
problem has been a general problem in all government parastatals in
Nigeria because of the high level of corruption and embezzlement of
allocated funds coupled with poor implementation of the housing
policies for the military personnel (Adeniyi, 2004). Various
governments at Federal and State level have in the past made efforts of
improving the housing situation in the military Barracks. The
low-income group to which most soldiers belong is the most hard-hit by
the shortage of housing. The shortage of housing persists despite the
various government efforts because the supply is far short of housing
needs (Ogunshakin and Olayiwola, 1992). Housing programmes targeted at
the low-income group of soldiers invariably end up with the rich senior
officers because of the autocratic nature of the profession.
Military barracks across the country are in dire
need of rehabilitation and in many cases lack enough accommodation for
soldiers in spite of the yearly budgets of billions for barracks
repairs, (Daily Trust, 18th March 2015). Daily trust (2015) also
revealed that military barracks in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and
other places are characterized with many buildings that are in a state
of disrepair, with broken doors, windows and leaking roofs.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The problem of insufficient housing and accommodation to military
personnel is primarily that of a crisis situation, manifesting and
expressing itself in quantitative and qualitative forms. Lack of
comfort and rudimentary infrastructure, congestion, unhygienic
conditions, high densities and absence of organization make for ghastly
experiences shared by the vast majority of the military personnel. The
spatial product of this problem is not only in the rapid emergence and
deployment an environmental problem in the Nigeria military barracks.
However, the researcher is evaluating the problem of insufficient
accommodation to military personnel with a special focus on the
Nigerian Army.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To examine the problem of insufficient accommodation to military personnel in Nigeria.
- To examine the level of government commitment at providing decent accommodation for the Nigerian Army personnel.
- To determine the factors hindering the provision of decent accommodation for the Nigerian Army personnel.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- Is there a problem of insufficient accommodation to military personnel in Nigeria?
- What is the level of government commitment at providing decent accommodation for the Nigerian Army personnel?
- What are the factors hindering the provision of decent accommodation for the Nigerian Army personnel?
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The following are the significance of this study:
- The outcome of this study will sensitize the Nigeria
government, the Nigerian Army authority and the general public on the
problem of insufficient housing and accommodation to the Nigerian Army
personnel with a view of identifying how the problem can be solved.
- This research will also serve as a resource base to other
scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in
this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide
new explanation to the topic.
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study on the evaluation of the problem of insufficient
accommodation to military personnel in Nigeria will cover the state of
accommodation facilities in the Nigerian Army barracks all over the
country.
LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to
impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant
materials, literature or information and in the process of data
collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will
simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This
consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
REFERENCES
Abiodun, J.A. Housing Problems in Nigeria Cities Onibokun p ed
Housing in Nigeria: A book of Reading NISER, Ibadan Pp 49-63, 2005.
Adeniyi E.O, The Provision of Housing A challenge to Military
performance in Africa, Ibadan NISER reprint series 96, Pg 701 – 710,
2004
Daily Trust, 18th March 2015
Ogunshakin and Olayiwola L. The Collapse of Official Housing Policy in Nigeria Habitat International Vol.16, No1 1992.
Okpala D.C.I. Housing Tenure in Nigeria Housing Policy, of need
for Rethinking of current emphasis, Publication of Nigerian Association
of Housing Corporation Vol. 2 No.1 1985