President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Thursday formally administered the oath of office to General Christopher Musa, retired, thereby confirming him as the country’s new Minister of Defence. The brief but high-level ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital city, and was witnessed by senior government officials and presidential aides.
Okay News reports that General Musa’s appointment followed the approval of the Senate of Nigeria on Wednesday, after the upper chamber of the National Assembly subjected him to an extensive screening exercise that lasted about five hours. The Senate of Nigeria, which is the legislative body responsible for confirming federal cabinet nominees, had questioned the former Chief of Defence Staff on a wide range of national security concerns affecting Africa’s most populous country.
During the screening, lawmakers pressed him to address security challenges unfolding in different regions of Nigeria, including the highly controversial withdrawal of military personnel from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, located in Kebbi State in the northwestern part of the country. The troops vacated the school shortly before armed men abducted several female students on November 17, an incident that drew widespread criticism from local and international observers. Responding to the lawmakers, General Musa assured them that he would “immediately set up a full-scale investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal once he assumed office.
General Musa also committed to examining other serious security breaches that have unsettled Nigeria’s defence architecture in recent months. He vowed to probe the killing of Brigade Commander Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria, along with other attacks that have targeted senior military officers in the course of their duties.
His nomination emerged after the resignation of former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who reportedly stepped down due to health-related concerns. General Musa is expected to bring his extensive operational experience to the ministry, having previously served as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, where he oversaw joint military operations across different parts of the country.
More updates are expected soon as the new minister settles into his role and begins implementing his promised investigations and policy directions.
