By Abiola Olawale
The Senate on Wednesday screened and confirmed the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa as the Minister of Defence.
The New Diplomat reports that Musa was confirmed after a five-hour grilling by the lawmakers on Wednesday.
During the screening, Musa, who answered questions from lawmakers, assured Nigerians of his commitment to serve Nigeria diligently if confirmed as a minister.
He said that his administration as the Minister of Defence will ensure a comprehensive and unified database in Nigeria to assist security agencies in their operations.
Musa called for proactive local and sub-national governments, and the Nigerian legal system to address insecurity.
Musa stated: “I believe that the challenges we are facing are a Nigerian challenge, not only for the armed forces or security forces, but for everyone working together.
“I want to assure you, we will win working together as a team. Even when I was CDS, I tried to harmonise all the teams and service chiefs.
“There are a lot of gaps and constitutional lacunae that are affecting operations. We will follow up to make sure everyone is on board.
“There should be no negotiation with criminals. If you negotiate with them, they will never abide by it. They use the money to buy more arms,” he said.
The former defence chief noted that subsequent recruitment into the armed forces will be thorough.
On the claims of Christian genocide in the country, Musa said all Nigerians are victims of terrorism.
“We are all victims; everybody is being killed,” he said.
“We must stop the killings. Nigerians should not be killed. We must unite. These are evil people who are on drugs, they kill everyone, they don’t know who is who.”
Following his address, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio commended Musa for taking the time to answer all the questions asked.
“I have not seen any nominee who has answered all questions since 1999,” he said.
“We want to urge you to visit the defence industries as soon as you take over.”
Following the screening, Akpabio put Musa’s nomination as Defence Minister to a voice vote, which was unanimously approved.
Recall that Musa was nominated as the Minister of Defence after Hon. Badaru Abubakar resigned from the position.
General Musa, 58, is a highly decorated soldier and former Chief of Defence Staff, a position he held from 2023 until October 2025. His distinguished military career earned him the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his primary and secondary education in his home state before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria, graduating in 1986. He subsequently joined the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.
Over more than three decades of service, General Musa has held numerous key appointments, demonstrating strategic and operational excellence. He served as General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
In 2019, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region. By 2021, Musa had become Theatre Commander for Operation Hadin Kai, later serving as Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before his elevation to Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.
