General Christopher Musa (Rtd) Promises Security Overhaul as Defence Minister
Nigeria’s newly confirmed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has called for a complete overhaul of the country’s security deployment architecture, stressing that soldiers should not be manning roadblocks or guarding private property.
According to him, military personnel must return to their core operational roles, army operatives in the field confronting armed threats, air force officers providing decisive aerial support, and naval forces securing Nigeria’s waterways, including the Lake Chad basin.
General Musa Rtd warned that the Sahel region is becoming increasingly volatile, making it urgent for the Nigerian government to strengthen and properly secure the nation’s borders to prevent the infiltration of armed groups and external threats.
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General Musa emphasized the need for a holistic approach to curb kidnappings, particularly the abduction of students, and pledged to review the Safe Schools Initiative. He stressed that empowering communities is crucial, as most crimes are localized, and locals should be equipped to respond first.
The Minister also promised to investigate the withdrawal of troops before the Maga school attack and the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba.
He advocates for a unified national database, stronger penalties for terrorism, and an end to ransom payments and negotiations with terrorists.
The Senate has since confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence.
The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions.
Musa, who retired barely 40 days ago, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu as the Defence Minister on Tuesday. His nomination was transmitted to the Senate the same day for confirmation.
(Democracy Newsline Newspaper, December 3rd 2025)
