The Senate has confirmed former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following a rigorous five-hour screening session.
This comes just a day after President Bola Tinubu forwarded Musa’s name to the upper chamber for consideration.
General Musa, who took over from Mohammed Badaru, who resigned due to health reasons, pledged to strengthen coordination among security institutions to tackle the country’s growing security challenges.
He emphasized the need for unity and cooperation to defeat the “evil forces” threatening Nigeria’s security.
During his screening, Musa assured lawmakers that he would run a Defence Ministry driven by accountability, inter-agency cooperation, regional diplomism, and community involvement.
He also called for increased funding for military operations, noting that many essential fighting equipment are still being imported.
Senators praised Musa’s operational record, humility, and responsiveness as CDS, but insisted that Nigeria’s security crisis required robust interrogation.
They urged him to prioritize the welfare of troops and ensure the Nigerian Army is placed on first line charge in the national budget.
