By Obinna Uballa
General Christopher Musa (rtd), the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has been sworn in as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.
President Bola Tinubu administered the oath of office at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, barely 24 hours after the Senate screened and confirmed the retired general.
Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga confirmed the development in a Facebook post. Sharing a photograph of Gen. Musa taking the oath and writing: “General Christopher Musa takes oath of office as Nigeria’s new Defence Minister.”
The New Diplomat had reported that the Senate spent five hours grilling Musa during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Responding to questions, the former CDS pledged his commitment to strengthening national security and said he would prioritise a unified national database to aid intelligence gathering and operations.
He also called for greater involvement of state and local governments, as well as reforms within the legal system, to more effectively tackle insecurity.
“The challenges we are facing are Nigerian challenges, not just for the armed forces,” Musa told lawmakers. “We will win by working together as a team. Even as CDS, I worked to harmonise all service chiefs.
“There are constitutional gaps affecting operations, and we will follow up to ensure everyone is on board. There should be no negotiation with criminals. They never abide by it and use the money to buy more arms.”
Addressing claims of Christian genocide, Musa said terrorism affects all Nigerians.
“We are all victims; everybody is being killed,” he said. “We must stop the killings. Nigerians should not be killed. These are evil people on drugs who kill indiscriminately.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Musa’s composure and thoroughness during the screening, noting: “I have not seen any nominee who has answered all questions since 1999.”
Musa’s nomination was subsequently approved by a unanimous voice vote.
His appointment follows the resignation of former Defence Minister Hon. Badaru Abubakar.
General Musa, 58, is a decorated military officer whose career spans more than three decades. He served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025 and received the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, he attended local schools before proceeding to the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986, graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
Over the years, he held several strategic posts, including General Staff Officer 1, Training and Operations, HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Army Policy and Plans; Commander, Sector 3 of both Operation Lafiya Dole and the Multinational Joint Task Force; and Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai.
He later served as Commander, Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, before being appointed CDS by President Tinubu in 2023.
With his new role as Minister of Defence, Gen. Musa is expected to lead ongoing reforms aimed at modernising Nigeria’s defence architecture and improving the fight against terrorism and other security threats.
