In a decisive move to reinforce Nigeria’s embattled security architecture, the Senate on Wednesday confirmed retired Christopher Gwabin Musa as the country’s new Minister of Defence. The approval came after a rigorous five-hour screening session by lawmakers.
Gen. Musa, who formerly served as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) — a position he held until his retirement in October 2025 — was nominated by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria, to succeed Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down earlier this week citing health reasons.
During the plenary session, the Senate — meeting as a Committee of the Whole — scrutinised Musa’s past performance, command decisions, and plans for tackling Nigeria’s escalating security crisis including insurgency, banditry, and mass kidnappings.
Addressing senators, Musa pledged renewed vigour and structural reforms to confront insecurity. “The armed forces cannot solve all the problems. Security is localised. Communities must be empowered as first responders,” he said. “From day one, we will review everything. We will not allow terrorists the space to operate.”
He added there would be “no negotiation with criminals,” and called for a coordinated effort among security agencies, sub-national governments, and communities to end ransom payments and bring perpetrators to justice.
His confirmation comes at a precarious time for Nigeria, with recent incidents — such as the abduction of schoolgirls at Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga in Kebbi State — sparking national outrage over security lapses.
For his part, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged the new minister to leverage the “legal environment that serves as a deterrent,” stressing that the confirmation was part of a broader effort to stabilise the nation’s volatile security situation. “We want you to succeed,” he told Musa.
