GOC 81 DIVISION COMMISSIONS REMODELLED 9 BRIGADE MEDICAL CENTRE, REAFFIRMS SOLDIERS FIRST COMMITMENT

GOC 81 DIVISION COMMISSIONS REMODELLED 9 BRIGADE MEDICAL CENTRE, REAFFIRMS SOLDIERS FIRST COMMITMENT

The General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, has commissioned the remodelled 9 Brigade Medical Centre, Maryland, Lagos, in a significant step towards strengthening healthcare delivery and enhancing the welfare of Nigerian Army personnel and their families.

The commissioning ceremony, held on Thursday 17 September 2026, was witnessed by senior military officers and dignitaries from paramilitary organisations, traditional institutions and other sectors of society. Among those in attendance were the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command, the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command and the representative of the Oba of Onigbongbo, among other distinguished guests.

The remodelling of the Medical Centre was initiated by the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TA Lagbaja (NAM), as part of his commitment to improving the welfare and healthcare services available to Nigerian Army personnel and their families. The the project was sustained by General OO Oloyede and completed under the leadership of the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu (NAM), thereby ensuring the realisation of the vision behind the upgrade of the facility.

The completion and commissioning of the Medical Centre is also in keeping with the “Soldiers First” leadership philosophy of the current Chief of Army Staff, which places the welfare, wellbeing and professional needs of Nigerian Army soldiers at the centre of his command priorities. The upgraded facility demonstrates the practical expression of this philosophy through sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure for troops and their families.

Speaking at the ceremony, Major General Adebayo Babalola commended the Nigerian Army leadership for its sustained commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and welfare facilities across the Service. He noted that access to quality healthcare remains an essential component of troop welfare, morale and operational effectiveness.

The GOC stated that the remodelled facility would significantly enhance the capacity of 9 Brigade to provide comprehensive medical services to personnel, their families and other authorised beneficiaries. He further noted that the investment by the COAS in modern medical infrastructure would improve early diagnosis, treatment, emergency response and specialised care while reducing the need for referrals for certain medical procedures.

In his welcome address, the Commander 9 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Olufemi Owolabi, expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff for the Nigerian Army’s continued commitment to improving the welfare of personnel and their families. He noted that the remodelling and equipping of the Medical Centre would significantly enhance the quality and scope of healthcare services available to personnel of the Brigade and their families.

Brigadier General Owolabi also acknowledged the vision of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TA Lagbaja, under whose leadership the remodelling project was initiated. He commended the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for ensuring the completion of the project, describing the development as a reflection of institutional continuity and sustained commitment to troop welfare.

The upgraded Medical Centre now has a wide range of modern medical equipment designed to strengthen its diagnostic, surgical, maternal, neonatal, laboratory, emergency and rehabilitative capabilities.

Among the newly installed equipment are a Digital X-Ray Machine with Flat Panel Detector, Fluoroscopy Machine, fully equipped Operating Theatre, Anaesthetic Machine and Anaesthetic Monitor. The facility also has Phototherapy Machines, Neonatal Incubators, Surgical Tables, ECG Machine, Ultrasound Machine and Automated External Defibrillators.