The Senate has confirmed the nomination of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, as Minister of Defence following a five-hour grilling by the lawmakers on Wednesday.
General Musa, the immediate past CDS, was confirmed after the screening at the Senate chambers, a day after President Bola Tinubu nominated him for the position.
His screening came at the time of heightened insecurity in Nigeria, with mass abductions, especially in schools, becoming commonplace. One such incident was the kidnapping of 25 students in Maga, Kebbi State, with reports that troops left just before the assailants stormed the school.
General Musa said one of the first things he would do is to probe the alleged withdrawal of the troops, insisting that the military is not known for cowardice.
“We are going to go after them fully, working together with all the security agencies and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (of government),” the minister, dressed in a kaftan and a hula (cap), 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.”
Though the recent wave of mass abductions has been in schools, especially in the country’s northern region, kidnapping for ransom is a booming industry in parts of Nigeria.
A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion as ransom between May 2023 and April 2024.
‘Stop Ransom Payments’
However, General Musa said Nigeria “must stop ransom payments” and in situations where such is done, “we can track the monies being paid,” emphasizing the use of technology in the fight against insecurity.
“The use of technology is very important. Like I said, if are able to have a database – every Nigerian has a number linked to everything you have electronically – we can monitor everything,” Musa, who was the CDS between June 2023 and October 2025, said.
He ruled out negotiation with criminals, insisting it “compromises security”. According to him, such a move gives the assailants time to regroup and also buy weapons, which they use in attacking communities.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the screening, told the new minister that the lawmakers are against negotiation with criminals and their rehabilitation.
The former Akwa Ibom State governor decried the resources spent on the rehabilitation of criminals and said Nigeria cannot afford to spend scarce funds on such endeavours.
‘Has Never Worked’
He referenced his time as a governor, saying his administration gave criminals a hard time.
“One thing that is most impressive is the fact that you are against negotiation with terrorists.
“This Senate is against the negotiation with terrorists, and we are even against the idea of paying ransom to terrorists because they use the same money to buy more arms and then wait a while and come back,” the Senate president said, seeking a review of the military’s non-kinetic measures in the fight against insecurity.
“It has never worked. Even when I was a governor, I never negotiated with terrorists.”
According to him, deradicalising terrorists “demoralises the society”.
“A typical Nigerian community will never accept such a person, and he will get depressed and go back to the same crime,” he said.
Akpabio assured the defence minister of the Senate’s support to ensure the country is secure.
“But we will do our best to ensure that we support you,” he said, calling for a reduction in the period of trial for criminals.
His screening and confirmation are the culmination of activities since his nomination as defence minister.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu nominated him to fill the position left by Mohammed Badaru, who resigned as the minister of defence due to ill health.
In a letter addressed to Akpabio, the Nigerian president asked the Senate to confirm Musa as Badaru’s replacement, less than two months after the ex-CDS was relieved of his duties as the country’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
