The Senate on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, approved the appointment of former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, capping a tense and searching five-hour screening session that placed national security failures under a harsh spotlight.
Lawmakers subjected the retired general to probing questions, particularly over the troubling withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, an action taken shortly before the abduction of schoolgirls on November 17, a development that has sparked widespread outrage and renewed fears over school safety in the North.
Pressed to explain the military’s role, Musa pledged to initiate a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal as soon as he assumes office.
He also promised an immediate investigation into the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba, a brigade commander ambushed in Borno State, along with other recent targeted attacks on senior military personnel.
Musa told the lawmakers, “It is painful and completely unacceptable. We will not allow terrorists the capacity to operate freely. We will go after them fully, working in unison with all security agencies and government bodies. There will be a full investigation, and the Armed Forces will be held to the highest standards.”
The retired general outlined systemic gaps within the security architecture, stressing the need for increased defence funding, stronger community intelligence networks, and tighter inter-agency coordination.
He also underscored the urgency of securing schools under the Safe Schools Initiative, insisting that terrorism and banditry must be met with absolute zero tolerance.
The screening session was not without drama. A suggestion by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) that the nominee should simply “take a bow and go” was met with loud objections, particularly from Senator Garba Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South), who insisted that the gravity of Nigeria’s security challenges required a full examination.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio intervened, warning that both Nigerians and the international community were closely observing the process.
Gen. Musa, nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, after the resignation of former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru on health grounds, vowed to prioritise the protection of lives and Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
He said, “I pledge to give my best to ensure Nigeria is secure. We need every Nigerian on board. The enemies we face are ruthless forces that do not value human life. If we fail to work together, we give them room to continue their evil acts.”
His confirmation comes at a time of worsening insecurity nationwide, with rising incidents of mass abductions, extremist attacks, and deadly ambushes targeting security personnel.
