The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence following a grueling three-hour screening marked by rare bipartisan firmness, heated floor protests, and renewed scrutiny of the country’s faltering security architecture. Lawmakers firmly rejected attempts to allow the nominee to “take a bow and go,” insisting that Nigerians deserved comprehensive answers on the escalating insecurity across the country.
The session featured rigorous questioning on defence funding, intelligence gaps, technology shortfalls, rising banditry, terrorist infiltration, and lapses in military operations—including high-profile kidnappings and the capture of a senior officer. Chaos briefly erupted when some senators suggested Musa be spared questioning, citing his prior 2023 appointment as Chief of Defence Staff. Shouts of “Let him take a bow and go!” were met with protests from colleagues demanding accountability. Senate President Godswill Akpabio intervened, invoking Order 52, and stressed that the session was no mere formality:
“How can he take a bow and go? Where are Brigadier General Uba? Where are the children kidnapped while soldiers withdrew? Nigerians want answers.”
During the interrogation, Musa delivered a detailed plan to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity. He promised stricter operational discipline, improved community-based security, stronger inter-agency coordination, and full investigations into recent military lapses. He described school abductions as “deeply unfortunate” and highlighted porous school infrastructure, weak community resilience, delayed intelligence, and insufficient technology as key challenges. Stressing the importance of local response, he said:
“Crime is localized. Security agencies cannot be everywhere. We must build community resilience. Technology and rapid information-sharing must be central to our approach.”
He proposed an integrated security model combining the Armed Forces, police, civil defence, state governments, and local communities, noting that fragmented responses have left gaps exploited by kidnappers.
Musa warned that militants continue to infiltrate Nigeria from neighboring countries, saying, “The terrorists believe Nigeria is rich. Wherever they operate, their endgame is to enter Nigeria.” He called for revitalizing the Multinational Joint Task Force and bolstering border security along corridors stretching toward Mali and Burkina Faso.
The Defence Minister-designate cautioned against relying solely on the military, noting that effective governance, justice, and capacity-building remain central to national security. He emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, citing the southwest’s relative security as a product of strong coordination among governors and intelligence agencies.
Highlighting legal weaknesses, Musa said delayed justice undermines deterrence. He pledged to tackle illegal mining, a major source of terrorist financing, and to fully investigate the capture of Brigadier General Uba, promising accountability for any negligence or cowardice.
Musa outlined key operational priorities, including withdrawing soldiers from routine checkpoints to focus on active combat, redeploying troops to forests and high-risk zones, and strengthening collaboration with governors, federal agencies, and local communities. He also promised to expand maritime security under Operation Delta Safe, intensify border surveillance—particularly along the Cameroon frontier—and protect farmlands to safeguard food security.
Pressed on military preparedness, he acknowledged gaps in equipment, technology, and intelligence, pledging urgent reforms and a follow-up report to the Senate on defence needs. Senators called for predictable defence funding and improved troop welfare, citing Nigeria’s low soldier salaries. Musa reaffirmed that former insurgents would not be recruited into the Armed Forces and advocated for a unified national security database to prevent criminal infiltration.
Musa’s overarching message was clear: “I cannot afford to fail myself, my nation, or my family. No indolence. No cowardice. Nigerians must work together. We will face these evil forces squarely and stop the killings.” Akpabio underscored that new Senate legislation, including the death penalty for kidnappers, would give Musa the legal framework needed to act decisively:
“We are giving you the enabling framework. If they are not deterred, they will face the death sentence.”
The confirmation of Gen. Musa signals the Senate’s determination to tackle insecurity through a combination of legislative reforms, governance, and military improvements, marking a decisive step in Nigeria’s fight against criminal and terrorist networks.
