JUST-IN: Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Defence Minister

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), as Minister of Defence after a rigorous five-hour screening session marked by heated exchanges and moments of tension in the chamber.

The atmosphere became charged earlier when some lawmakers pushed to end the screening abruptly and allow the nominee to take a bow and leave. Senator Sani Musa of Niger East had argued that the former service chief deserved a bow based on his record, but several lawmakers firmly rejected the proposal, insisting that Musa must face a more detailed interrogation given the serious security challenges confronting the country.

Their disagreement threw the chamber into temporary disorder as senators rose in protest, demanding deeper engagement with the nominee. It took the intervention of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to restore order. Rising from his seat—an action that signals a call for calm—Akpabio reminded his colleagues that Nigerians were watching and deserved assurances that those chosen to secure the country were fully ready for the task.

He specifically directed the nominee to look into allegations surrounding the withdrawal of soldiers from a school in Kebbi, where schoolgirls were recently abducted—a development that has triggered widespread criticism.

Responding to the lawmakers’ concerns, General Musa expressed regret about Nigeria’s persistent security challenges and described the situation as deeply unfortunate. He stressed the urgent need to strengthen the safe-school initiative, warning that many learning centres across the country remain unprotected and easy targets for criminal groups.

Musa also emphasised a whole-of-society approach to security, advocating a framework that integrates technological tools, community participation, and coordinated operations. This, he said, is essential to curbing recurring kidnappings and attacks.

The former CDS further highlighted the need for stronger accountability mechanisms within the armed forces. He called for greater cooperation among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, noting that many institutions were not operating at full capacity. Given the cross-border nature of terrorism, Musa insisted that Nigeria must work closely with neighbouring countries to avoid becoming increasingly vulnerable.

He warned that terrorists often perceive Nigeria as wealthy and therefore a prime target, stressing that security agencies must adopt a zero-tolerance posture towards terrorism and banditry, anchored on robust local collaboration.

Musa also described many of Nigeria’s existing laws as outdated and in urgent need of review. He identified unregulated mining as a major source of funding for criminal networks and urged for more sophisticated monitoring tools, supported by modern technology, to dismantle these illicit operations.

With the screening concluded and the nominee eventually confirmed, attention now turns to how General Musa will translate his extensive experience into concrete reforms capable of strengthening national security and restoring public confidence.