Nigerian Army barracks are strategic locations where officers of the military service live. These barracks are found in almost all states and geopolitical zones of the country. And while they are home to mainly military officers and their family members, some civilians also live there for one reason or another. Also, during times of security crises in the country, these heavily guarded barracks turn to be a “safe haven” for people whose lives are in danger.
Across the 36 states of the federation, Nigeria has about 52 army barracks, with the south-western geopolitical zone having the highest number of these military bases with 17 barracks, while the southeast has the least number of barracks with about 4 military barracks. In between these two extremes, there are also barracks in other geopolitical zones.
Nigeria Has 52 Army Barracks Across its 36 States
| S/N | Barracks | Location |
| 1 | Dalet barracks (Nigerian Army 1 Division Headquarters) | Kawo, Kaduna State |
| 2 | Bukavu barracks | Kano State |
| 3 | Kalapanzin barracks ( 312 Artillery Regiment, Kaduna) | Kaduna State |
| 4 | Ribadu Cantonment (Old Nigerian Defense Academy) | Kaduna State |
| 5 | Katsina barracks | Jibia road, Katsina State |
| 6 | Kotoko barracks | Kaduna State |
| 7 | Chindit barracks | Zaria, Kaduna State |
| 8 | Dodan barracks (the biggest barracks in Nigeria) | Ikoyi, Lagos State |
| 9 | Mokola Military barracks | Oyo State |
| 10 | Osun Army barracks | Osun State |
| 11 | Albitic barracks – headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps. | Surulere, Lagos |
| 12 | Arakan barracks – Home to the Nigerian Army Finance Corp, housing the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration. | Apapa Lagos, Lagos State |
| 13 | Tego barracks. It is the intelligence arm of the Nigerian Army School. | Badia in Lagos State |
| 14 | Beho Beho barracks | Lagos State |
| 15 | Marda barracks | 346 Herbert Macaulay Street, Yaba, Lagos |
| 16 | Ashanti barracks | Mobil road, Ajegunle, Lagos State |
| 17 | Letmauk – Home to the 4th Battalion in Mokola | Ibadan, Oyo State |
| 18 | Odogbo barracks – also referred to as the odoko-Idogbo, Army barracks, Ibadan. | Ibadan, Oyo State |
| 19 | Ikeja barracks, also known as Ikeja Cantonment | Ikeja, Lagos State |
| 20 | Lafenwa barracks, also known as Nyangoa barracks. | Abeokuta, Ogun State |
| 21 | AN barracks | Yaba, Lagos State |
| 22 | Alamala barracks | Ogun State |
| 23 | Ojo Barracks – also referred to as Ojo Cantonment | Tedi Village, Ojo in Lagos |
| 24 | Abalti Barracks – the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps. | Surulere, Lagos |
| 25 | Goodluck Jonathan barracks – the third-largest military base in Nigeria. | Ohafia, Abia State |
| 26 | Onitsha barracks | Anambra State |
| 27 | Abakpa barracks – houses the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army. | Enugu State |
| 28 | Awkunanu barracks | Enugu State |
| 29 | Ejoor barracks – Houses the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army | Efurun, Warri in Delta State |
| 30 | Calabar barracks – 13 Brigade Barracks, currently known as Akim Army barracks, Calabar. | Calabar, Cross River State |
| 31 | Ekenwan barracks | Ovia North, Benin City, Edo State |
| 32 | Adaka Boro barracks | Elele, Rivers State |
| 33 | Bori camp | Port Harcourt, Rivers State |
| 34 | Warri Military Barracks | Warri, Delta State |
| 35 | Giwa and Maimalari barracks – 7 Division headquarters of the Nigerian army. | Maiduguri, Borno State |
| 36 | Obienu barracks | Bauchi, Bauchi State |
| 37 | 33 Artillery Brigade barracks | Bauchi, Bauchi State |
| 38 | 22 Armoured Brigades, known as Sobi barracks | Ilorin, Kwara State |
| 39 | Rukuba barracks | Jos, Plateau State |
| 40 | Keffi barracks, the 177 Battalion – currently called Shittu Alao barracks. | Jos-Abuja road, Keffi, Nassarawa State |
| 41 | Gado Nasko barracks, also known as Lungi barracks | Abuja |
| 42 | Yakubu Gowon barracks – home to the Guards Brigade Medical center, Abuja | Abuja |
| 43 | Sani Abacha barracks | Abuja |
| 44 | Camp Wu Bassey | Muritala way, next to Sheraton hotel, Abuja |
| 45 | Aguiyi-Ironsi barracks or Aguiyi-Ironsi Cantonment | Asokoro, Abuja |
| 46 | Fort IBB barracks (former Fort Obasanjo) | Abuja |
| 47 | Mogadishu or Abacha barracks | Abuja |
| 48 | Fort Nagwamatse barracks | Kantagora, Niger State |
| 49 | Makurdi barracks – also known as Naites Nasme barracks. It is the home of 72 Special Forces Battalion | Makurdi, Benue State |
| 50 | 174 Battalion Nigerian Army barracks | Odoguyan Ikorodu, Lagos State |
| 51 | Artillery Brigade barracks (31 Artillery Brigade Minna Cantonment) | Minna, Niger State |
| 52 | Colito barracks | Kwara State |
Division of Nigerian Army Barracks Across the 6 Geopolitical Zones
The 36 states of the Nigerian Federation are grouped into six geo-political zones. The 52 Nigerian Army barracks housing ground soldiers are distributed across the six geo-political zones in the nation. These geopolitical zones are the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-East, South-West, and South-South.
Nigerian Army Barracks in the North-West Geopolitical Zone
The states in the North-Western region include; Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, and Kano. There are seven Nigeria Army barracks situated within these states, with their headquarters in Kaduna. They include the following:
- Dalet barracks, located in Kawo in Kaduna State. It is the headquarters of the Nigerian Army 1 Division.
- Bukavu barracks is located in Kano.
- Kalapanzin barracks, located in Kaduna State, also referred to as 312 Artillery Regiment, Kaduna.
- Ribadu Cantonment is located in Kaduna city. It is known as the old Nigerian Defense Academy.
- Katsina barracks are located along Jibia road in Katsina, the State capital.
- Kotoko barracks are located in Kaduna State.
- Chindit barracks, located in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Nigerian Army Barracks in the South-Western Geopolitical Zone
The states that make up the South-Western zone are Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, and Ogun. The Nigeria Army barracks in the zone are distributed in almost all states, and there are 18 army barracks in these 6 south-western states.
- Dodan barracks, which is currently the biggest barrack in the Federation. It is located in Lagos, Off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.
- Mokola Military barracks, located in Oyo State.
- Osun Army barracks, located in Osun State.
- Albitic barracks in Surulere, Lagos, is the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps.
- Arakan barracks is located in Apapa Lagos, Lagos State. It is the umbrella of the Nigerian Army Finance Corp, housing the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration.
- Tego barracks on Bonny Street, Badia in Lagos State. It is the intelligence arm of the Nigerian Army School.
- Beho Beho barracks, located in Lagos State.
- Marda barracks, in Yaba. It is located right opposite Healthy Pulse pharmacy and supermarket, 346 Herbert Macaulay Street, Yaba, Lagos.
- 174 Battalion, Nigerian Army barracks located in Odoguyan Ikorodu, Lagos State.
- Ashanti barracks is located along Mobil road, Ajegunle, Lagos State.
- Letmauk barracks in Ibadan. It houses the 4th Battalion in Mokola, Oyo State.
- Odogbo barracks, located in Ibadan, Oyo State. It is also referred to as the odoko-Idogbo, Army barracks, Ibadan.
- Ikeja barracks, also known as Ikeja Cantonment, is located in Ikeja, Lagos State.
- Lafenwa barracks, also known as Nyangoa barracks, is located in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
- AN barracks is located in Yaba, Lagos State.
- Alamala barracks, located in Ogun State.
- Ojo Barracks, also called Ojo Cantonment, is located in Tedi Village, Ojo in Lagos.
- Abalti Barracks, located in Surulere, Lagos. It is the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps.
The southwestern region has the second-highest number of military barracks in Nigeria, with 18 military bases across the 6 states that make up the region.
Nigerian Army Barracks in the South-East Geopolitical Zone
The Nigerian Army headquartered in Enugu State is overseeing the barracks situated in the South-East Geo-political zone. The states comprising the South-Eastern zone are Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, and Anambra. Altogether, they have four Army barracks.
- Goodluck Jonathan barracks, the third-largest military base in Nigeria, is located in Ohafia, Abia State.
- Onitsha barracks is located in Anambra State.
- Abakpa barracks, located in the State capital, Enugu. It is a major barracks in the territory because it houses the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.
- Awkunanu barracks is located in Enugu State.
Nigerian Army Barracks in the South-South Geopolitical Zone
The Nigerian Army in the South-South geo-political zone is headquartered in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The states in the geopolitical zone include; Rivers, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa. They have 6 army barracks scattered across the 6 states in the region. It is also worth noting that the Nigerian Navy also has a noticeable presence in this region with their closeness to a large expanse of water.
- Ejoor barracks, 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, is located in Efurun, Warri, Delta State.
- Calabar barracks, 13 Brigade Barracks, currently known as Akim Army barracks, is located in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
- Ekenwan barracks, located in Ovia North Benin City, Edo State.
- Adaka Boro barracks, located in Elele, Rivers State.
- Bori camp is also located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
- Warri Military barracks in Warri, Delta State.
Nigerian Army Barracks in the North-East Geopolitical Zone
The Nigeria army barracks in the North-East geopolitical zone man the affairs of the states in the region; Bauchi, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, and Yobe. The Nigeria Army barracks present in this zone number is about 3; however, due to the devastating effects of Boko Haram terrorists, killer herdsmen, and bandits, there is a more military presence in this region compared to other geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
- Giwa and Maimalari barracks. It is the 7 Division headquarter of the Nigerian Army and is located in Maiduguri, Borno State.
- Obienu barracks, located in Bauchi State.
- 33 Artillery Brigade barracks, located in Bauchi State.
Obviously, the North-East geopolitical zone in Nigeria has the least number of army barracks in Nigeria.
Nigerian Army Barracks in the North-Central Geopolitical Zone
The North-central geo-political zone is also referred to as Middle-Belt. The states included in this zone are Niger, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
- 22 Armoured Brigades, known as Sobi barracks, located in Ilorin, Kwara State.
- Rukuba barracks, located in Jos, Plateau State.
- Keffi barracks, the 177 Battalion, located along Jos-Abuja road, in Keffi Nassarawa State. Keffi barracks is currently called Shittu Alao barracks.
- Gado Nasko barracks, also known as Lungi barracks, is located in Abuja.
- Yakubu Gowon barracks, home to the Guards Brigade Medical center, located in FCT, Abuja.
- Sani Abacha barracks
- Camp Wu Bassey, located in Abuja, on Muritala way, next to Sheraton hotel.
- Aguiyi-Ironsi barracks or Aguiyi-Ironsi Cantonment located in Asokoro, Abuja.
- Fort IBB barracks (former Fort Obasanjo) is located in the FCT, Abuja.
- Mogadishu or Abacha barracks, located in Abuja.
- Fort Nagwamatse barracks, located in Kantagora, Niger State.
- Makurdi barracks, also referred to as Naites Nasme barracks, home of 72 Special Forces Battalion, is located in Makurdi, Benue State.
- Artillery Brigade barracks, located in Minna, Niger State. It is also known as the 31 Artillery Brigade Minna Cantonment.
- Colito barracks in Kwara State.
Structure of the Nigeria Army Barracks
The Nigeria Army barracks are built and structured to house military personnel and their families. They’re built mainly to separate militants from the civilian population. The purpose is to reinforce discipline, training, and esprit de corps referred to as “disciplined factories for soldiers.” Officers in the barracks are usually charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the barracks and personnel are in an orderly fashion. At the same time, junior officers are charged with maintaining cleanliness in the barracks.
The Nigeria Army barracks consists of military officers and soldiers from different ethnic groups, linguistics, and cultural background. Officers live with their families, relatives, and/or civilians as the case may be because civilians seek shelter in times of security crisis. Interestingly enough, you may want to know that the Nigerian army barracks are made up of different parts. They include the following;
Officers’ Quarters
A billet is a living-quarters where soldiers are assigned to sleep. In the past, it used to be a private dwelling place for the soldiers to accept. In Nigeria today, we have different quarters built around the barracks to accommodate officers and their families.
The senior officers of the Nigerian Army live in the Officers’ quarters. Each officer is assigned a room with a soldier subordinate or orderly. The commanding soldiers live in bigger and well-spaced houses than other subordinates. Also, the ranks of the officers determine what accommodation to live in. Privates and corporals live in their ranks’ quarters, while the sergeants’ quarters are mainly for non-commissioned officers.
Shopping Centre
The Nigerian Army barracks are now beautified with shopping centers, also known as commissary facilities like before. An example is ‘The arena,’ located in Oshodi, Lagos State. The shopping centers operate like conventional marts and are being run by wives of the army officers living in the barracks. They sell items like foodstuff, provisions, and every other valuable needed by dwellers at discounted prices.
Military Prisons
In the Nigeria Army barracks, there’re correctional centers, also known as military prisons. You can imagine what it’ll be like having a prison in a military environment. The atmosphere is really not going to be a palatable one for the offender. The prisons are set up to instill order and sanity into anyone who trespasses. The trespasser can be an army officer who commits a punishable offense, an enemy of the country, or a prisoner during the war. The Nigeria military sees to the affairs of the military prison.
Army Mess
The Nigerian militants also set out time to rest and relax. Time to flex around, chat, eat, drink, and relate like a civilian, not having to be in a combat mood. This is what is referred to as ‘Army mess.’ A number of the Nigerian army barracks have a mess, where they enjoy relaxation while off-duty. An example is the Command Officers Mess at Asokoro in Abuja, FCT.
Military Hospital
The Nigeria Army barracks also operate their own hospital to cater to the health challenges of the military officers and their families. It is either located inside or close to the barracks. This opportunity is also extended to civilians that need medical attention. Examples of the Nigerian army hospitals include; Army Command and NAOWA Hospital, Abuja, Nigerian Army Military Hospital, Lagos, etc.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the Nigeria Army barracks are not well-taken care of by the governments. With dilapidated buildings and structures, the deplorable state of the barracks calls for serious concern from the government, as this shouldn’t be the condition of those defending and protecting her territories.