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The Nigerian Senate has approved the appointment of a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, as Minister of Defence after a five-hour interrogation by the legislators on Wednesday.
General Musa, who recently served as CDS, received confirmation from the lawmakers following his screening in the Senate chambers, just a day after President Bola Tinubu put his name forward for the role.
His screening took place amid a period of increased insecurity in Nigeria, where mass abductions, particularly of students in schools, have become a frequent occurrence. One notable case involved the kidnapping of 25 students in Maga, Kebbi State, accompanied by reports that troops left the scene moments before the attackers arrived.
General Musa stressed during the screening that one of his first actions would be to investigate the alleged withdrawal of the troops.
“We are going to go after them fully, working together with all the security agencies and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (of government),” the minister said at the event attended by his family members, among others.
“We are going to investigate fully. The Armed Forces have a way, and then from the defence, we are going to make sure that we continue with the oversight over their activities.”
President Bola Tinubu had nominated Musa as the new Minister of Defence on Tuesday, following the resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the former minister.
Musa, who will turn 58 on December 25, served as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025.
