Ex-CDS Christopher Musa Confirmed as Nigeria’s Defence Minister Amid Urgent Security Push

Abuja — The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed Christopher Gwabin Musa, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), as the nation’s new Minister of Defence, tasking him with the urgent mission of tackling escalating insecurity across the country.

Musa’s confirmation follows the resignation of former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally forwarded Musa’s nomination to the Senate, with the letter read on the floor, prompting an expedited and thorough screening.

The session was intense, with senators demanding detailed plans from Musa on how he intends to curb insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, and cross-border infiltration. A proposal to allow Musa to “bow and go” without scrutiny was quickly rejected, reflecting the Senate’s insistence on accountability in a ministry at the heart of national security. Senate President Godswill Akpabio intervened, stressing that the confirmation process must remain rigorous and transparent.

During the screening, Musa pledged to adopt an all‑hands-on-deck approach to Nigeria’s security challenges. “I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that Nigeria is secure and safe,” Musa told the lawmakers, promising to strengthen inter-agency coordination, fortify border security, and tackle insurgency and criminal networks with strategic precision.

Security analysts hailed Musa’s confirmation as timely. With decades of experience in the military, including his tenure as CDS, he is expected to bring discipline, strategy, and swift action to a ministry struggling with multiple security crises.

Musa now inherits the critical task of restoring public confidence in the nation’s defence apparatus while leading the fight against armed groups, criminal gangs, and other threats that have destabilized several parts of Nigeria. Lawmakers emphasized that the nation is watching closely, and that Musa’s performance in the coming months will be pivotal in shaping Nigeria’s security trajectory.