The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence after a five-hour screening session marked by tough questions, tense exchanges, and a strong focus on the country’s worsening security situation.
Musa’s confirmation comes at a critical time, as Nigeria continues to struggle with rising insecurity, including mass kidnappings, terrorist attacks, and targeted killings of security personnel. His appearance before lawmakers drew significant public attention, especially following recent national outrage over the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the killing of military officers in the North-East.
One of the key issues raised during the screening was the controversial withdrawal of soldiers from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, shortly before bandits attacked and abducted several schoolgirls on November 17. The incident sparked nationwide anger, with many Nigerians questioning the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal and calling for accountability.
Responding to lawmakers, Musa said he shared the pain felt across the nation and vowed to investigate the matter immediately after assuming office.
“It is very unfortunate and really painful,” he said. “I want to assure Nigerians that we will not stand by and have terrorists have the capacity to do such. We are going to go after them fully, working together with all the security agencies and Ministries, Departments and Agencies. We are going to investigate fully.”
He explained that the Armed Forces already have internal processes for probing such incidents and promised strong oversight from the Defence Ministry moving forward.
Lawmakers also questioned Musa about recent attacks on military officers, especially the killing of a brigade commander in Borno State, Brigadier General Musa Uba. The officer was reportedly ambushed during operations against insurgents in the region, raising concerns about the safety of senior military personnel.
In his response, Musa said the death of the commander was a major blow to the military and the country. He promised a full investigation and assured the Senate that any gaps in intelligence, troop movement, or tactical planning would be reviewed and addressed.
“We will not allow terrorists to continue killing our officers and men,” he said. “We will take necessary steps to find out what happened and prevent such incidents in the future.”
During the screening, Musa highlighted several structural gaps within the armed forces, including limited resources, weak intelligence-sharing, and inadequate collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies. He said that addressing these issues would be a top priority once he assumes office.
He highlighted the need for enhanced funding to improve equipment, training, and technologies used in military operations. According to him, modern warfare requires advanced tools that Nigeria must be willing to invest in if it hopes to defeat terrorists and bandits.
Musa also called for strong community engagement, noting that civilians often hold valuable information that can assist security agencies. However, he said community trust must be rebuilt through transparency, prompt response to threats, and good communication.
“We need the support of everyone, every Nigerian, working together as a team,” Musa said. “The enemies we are dealing with are evil forces… If we don’t work together, we will allow them to perpetrate the evil acts they have been doing.”
As part of his strategy, Musa stressed the importance of protecting schools through the Safe Schools Initiative, a programme introduced after the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014. The initiative aims to improve security in vulnerable schools through fencing, early-warning systems, and collaboration with local security outfits.
Musa told lawmakers that Nigeria must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to school attacks. He said the Kebbi kidnapping was a painful reminder that schools remain easy targets for criminal groups.
“We must make sure our children can go to school without fear,” he said.
The screening session was not without drama. At one point, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) suggested that General Musa should be allowed to “take a bow and go,” a gesture sometimes granted to nominees with distinguished records.
The suggestion sparked protests from other senators, including Senator Garba Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South), who argued that skipping questioning would be inappropriate given the seriousness of the security challenges facing the country.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio intervened to calm tensions. He insisted that the nominee must undergo full questioning, noting that Nigerians and the international community were paying close attention to the screening process.
“This is an important office. The world is watching,” Akpabio said.
The lawmakers eventually agreed to continue with the thorough screening, which ran for five hours.
Musa’s nomination was sent to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, following the resignation of former Defence Minister Badaru Mohammed due to health reasons. His appointment comes at a time when Nigeria is facing major threats to security across several regions.
In the North-West, armed bandits have continued to attack villages, kidnap residents, and disrupt farming activities. In the North-East, insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active, launching occasional attacks despite being weakened. The Middle Belt has witnessed clashes between farmers and herders, while kidnapping for ransom has become widespread across many parts of the country.
These challenges have led to public pressure on the government to strengthen security agencies, invest more in the military, and adopt better strategies to protect citizens.
In his closing remarks to the Senate, Musa pledged to dedicate himself fully to the defence of Nigeria. He said he would focus on protecting the country’s territory, improving troop morale, and building closer ties between the military and civilians.
“I pledge to do my best to ensure that Nigeria is secure and safe,” he said. “We will work as a team because the threats we face require unity.”
With his confirmation now complete, General Musa will be sworn in and is expected to take up office immediately.