President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in General Christopher Musa (retd.) as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence during a brief ceremony at the State House, Abuja.
Musa, who previously served as Chief of Defence Staff, took the oath of office barely 24 hours after his confirmation by the Senate. His screening lasted five hours and featured intense questioning over recent national security lapses, including the withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, shortly before the November 17 abduction of schoolgirls.
Addressing lawmakers during the session, Musa vowed to “immediately set up a full-scale investigation” into the troop withdrawal once he assumes duty. He also pledged to probe the killing of Brigade Commander Brig-Gen. Musa Uba in Borno State and other attacks on senior military officers.
General Musa succeeds Mohammed Badaru, who resigned as Defence Minister reportedly on health grounds. His appointment is expected to bring renewed vigour to Nigeria’s defence architecture given his extensive military leadership experience.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army in 1991 and had a distinguished military career. He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023 and retired in October 2025.
As Chief of Defence Staff, he championed inter-service security collaboration.
With his swearing-in, the new Defence Minister is expected to immediately assume duties as the Tinubu administration seeks to consolidate recent security gains and fast-track reforms aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability nationwide.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. Adeniyi Adegbonmire, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Also in attendance were the spouse of the new Minister, Mrs Lilian Oghogho Musa; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs (rtd).
