The Senate has confirmed the appointment of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence after an intensive five-hour screening session on Wednesday.
Musa’s confirmation came just a day after President Bola Tinubu forwarded his name to the lawmakers as a replacement for former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who resigned due to health challenges.
The new minister’s screening occurred amid worsening nationwide insecurity, marked by repeated mass abductions, many of them in schools.
One of the latest attacks included the kidnapping of 25 students in Maga, Kebbi State, shortly after troops deployed in the area reportedly withdrew.
Responding to questions from senators, General Musa vowed to investigate the alleged troop withdrawal, stressing that the Nigerian military “is not known for cowardice.”
He assured lawmakers that security agencies would intensify coordinated operations against criminal groups.
“We are going after them fully, working with all security agencies and MDAs,” he said. He also promised thorough oversight of military activities under the Ministry of Defence.
Kidnapping for ransom has remained rampant in several regions. According to a National Bureau of Statistics report, Nigerians paid an estimated N2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024.
Musa maintained a firm position against negotiating with criminals or paying ransom, insisting that such actions strengthen criminal networks.
“Ransom payments must stop,” he said. “And in situations where payments happen, we should be able to track the money. Technology will be key.”
He emphasized the need for a national electronic database where each citizen has a verifiable digital identity to improve monitoring and intelligence gathering.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed Musa’s stance, arguing that negotiating with terrorists only enables them to regroup and acquire more weapons.
“This Senate is against negotiating with terrorists or paying ransom,” Akpabio said. “It has never worked. Even as governor, I never negotiated with terrorists.”
He criticized deradicalisation programmes, saying communities rarely accept rehabilitated militants, which often pushes them back into crime.
Akpabio assured Musa of the Senate’s support to strengthen national security and called for quicker judicial processes for criminal cases.
Musa’s confirmation marks the end of a swift transition following President Tinubu’s nomination.
His appointment comes less than two months after he was relieved of his role as the nation’s Chief of Defence Staff.
