President Bola Tinubu has officially inaugurated retired General Christopher Musa as Nigeria's new Minister of Defence, a critical appointment aimed at tackling the nation's escalating security challenges.
A Solemn Oath at the Villa
On Thursday, December 5, 2025, the former Chief of Defence Staff took his oath of office in a brief ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. His appointment follows the resignation of the former minister, Mohammed Badaru, who stepped down citing health reasons.
This move places a seasoned military commander at the helm of the defence ministry at a time when Nigeria is grappling with widespread incidents of mass abductions and deadly attacks across several regions.
Rigorous Senate Screening and Key Promises
General Musa's path to the cabinet was solidified on Wednesday, December 4, after a rigorous five-hour screening and confirmation session by the Nigerian Senate. Lawmakers intensely questioned him on his strategic ideas for dousing the heightened tensions in the country.
During the session, Musa addressed two major recent incidents. He vowed to "immediately set up a full-scale investigation" into the controversial withdrawal of troops from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. This withdrawal occurred shortly before the abduction of schoolgirls from that location on November 17.
Furthermore, the new minister pledged to probe the killing of a top military officer, Brigade Commander Brigadier-General Musa Uba, in Borno State, along with other attacks targeting senior officers.
A Veteran Takes Command
General Christopher Musa brings a wealth of operational experience to the role. He is a former Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East. He later served as Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, where he coordinated joint military operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit networks until his retirement in October of this year.
At the swearing-in, President Tinubu charged the new minister to leverage his extensive operational experience, strategic depth, and institutional knowledge of the Armed Forces to strengthen Nigeria's overall defence posture. The President emphasised that the ministry under Musa must prioritise synergy among the different service branches, accelerate ongoing reforms, and sustain momentum in joint operations.
The appointment has been largely applauded across the country, with many citizens and analysts expressing hope that his hands-on experience in combatting insecurity will translate into tangible results on the ground.
