The Senate has approved the appointment of retired Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence after an intense screening session that lasted more than five hours on Wednesday.
General Musa, who was nominated on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu following the resignation of former defence minister Badaru Mohammed, faced probing questions from lawmakers over recent security breaches across the country.
A key focus of the interrogation was the withdrawal of military personnel from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, a move that occurred shortly before the abduction of female students on November 17, sparking widespread public anger.
Musa described the incident as “deeply painful” and pledged that a full investigation would commence as soon as he assumed office. He also promised to uncover the circumstances surrounding the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno State and other attacks targeting security operatives.
“We will not allow terrorists the audacity to freely carry out such acts,” he told the chamber, assuring lawmakers that he would strengthen oversight, improve coordination among security agencies and intensify counter-terror operations nationwide.
The retired general also highlighted operational gaps in the armed forces and called for improved funding, enhanced community collaboration, and stronger inter-agency intelligence sharing. He reaffirmed his commitment to the Safe Schools Initiative, insisting that schools must be protected from attacks.
The screening session became heated at intervals. A suggestion by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) that the nominee “take a bow and go” triggered protests from other senators, especially Garba Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South), who insisted on a thorough evaluation. Senate President Godswill Akpabio eventually intervened, stressing the need for rigorous scrutiny, noting that both Nigerians and the international community were closely monitoring the process.
Upon confirmation, Musa pledged to lead with urgency and accountability. “Securing this nation is a collective task,” he said. “The threats we face are from forces that have no respect for human life. If we fail to work together, we give room for them to continue their evil.”
