Senate Confirms Gen.Musa As Defence Minister

Nigerian Senate has confirmed the nomination of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, as Minister of Defence after a five-hour grilling by the lawmakers during plenary 

General Musa, the immediate past CDS, was confirmed on Wednesday, a day after President Bola Tinubu nominated him for the position 

General Musa whose screening came at the time of heightened insecurity in Nigeria, vowed to probe the alleged withdrawal of the troops, during the kidnap incident of 25 students in Maga, Kebbi State, insisting the military is not known for cowardice. 

It was reported that troops left just before the assailants stormed the school

General Musa  dressed in a kaftan and a hula (cap), also promised to go after the bandits by working closely with all the security agencies and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies 

“We are going to go after them fully, working together with all the security agencies and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (of government),” the minister said 

“We are going to investigate fully. The Armed Forces have a way, and then from the defence, we are going to make sure that we continue with the oversight over their activities.”

Though the recent wave of mass abductions has been in schools, especially in the country’s northern region, kidnapping for ransom is a booming industry in parts of Nigeria. 

A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion as ransom between May 2023 and April 2024.

However, General Musa said Nigeria “must stop ransom payments” and in situations where such is done, “we can track the monies being paid,” emphasizing the use of technology in the fight against insecurity.

“The use of technology is very important. Like I said, if are able to have a database – every Nigerian has a number linked to everything you have electronically – we can monitor everything,” Musa, who was the CDS between June 2023 and October 2025, said.

He ruled out negotiation with criminals, insisting it “compromises security”. According to him, such a move gives the assailants time to regroup and also buy weapons, which they use in attacking communities.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the screening, told the new minister that the lawmakers are against negotiation with criminals and their rehabilitation.

The former Akwa Ibom State governor decried the resources spent on the rehabilitation of criminals and said Nigeria cannot afford to spend scarce funds on such endeavours.

The event attended by the Minister's family members, among others