Senate confirms ex-CDS Musa as Defence Minister after marathon screening
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence after an intensive five-hour screening session.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier written to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requesting the upper chamber to consider and approve Musa’s nomination as replacement for Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday.
During his screening, held on Wednesday, December 3, the retired general promised to strengthen military professionalism and boost Nigeria’s capacity to overcome its internal security threats.
Mr Musa, who opened his remarks with a pledge of total commitment to national security, assured lawmakers that he would work to restore stability across the country.
“I pledge to do my best to ensure that Nigeria is secure and safe. We need the support of everyone, every Nigerian, working together as a team because it’s going to be a team effort,” he said.
Describing insurgents, bandits and other violent groups as “evil forces that don’t mean well for this country and have no respect for human lives,” Mr Musa stressed that collective national backing was vital to defeat them.
Drawing from his 39 years in service, the former CDS said he had a clear grasp of Nigeria’s security landscape and the solutions required to address it.
“I want to assure Nigerians that as I’m coming on board, having served 39 years… we have seen what is going on, we have understood what is going on, and we know what we need,” he added.
