President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Senate for swiftly confirming General Christopher Musa (rtd.) as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, highlighting the appointment as vital to the nation’s security. In a statement posted on his official X handle, Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the legislature’s quick action.
He noted, “Two days ago, I transmitted the name of General Christopher G. Musa, our immediate past Chief of Defence Staff and a fine gentleman, to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation as the Federal Minister of Defence. I want to commend the Nigerian Senate for its expedited confirmation of General Musa yesterday. His appointment comes at a critical juncture in our lives as a nation. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
General Musa was screened and confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday. During his address to lawmakers, he discussed the worsening insecurity in the country and detailed his strategies for combating criminal activities. He emphasized that the era of negotiating with bandits or paying ransom to kidnappers was over, stating, “There is no negotiation with any criminal.”
Musa explained that ransom payments only give terrorists time to regroup and plan further attacks, warning that communities that engage in negotiations still face violence. He also advocated for the establishment of a unified national database linking identity, banking, and security systems, arguing that such mechanisms are crucial for effective counter-terrorism efforts.
