The Nigerian Senate has confirmed former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the country’s new Minister of Defence, following a five-hour screening session by lawmakers. The move comes as the nation faces escalating security challenges, including insurgency, banditry, and other threats.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read President Bola Tinubu’s request during plenary, urging lawmakers to approve Musa as the replacement for former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday citing health reasons. Akpabio then directed the suspension of Senate rules to allow the retired military chief into the chamber for proper screening.

President Tinubu, in his letter transmitted to the Senate, expressed confidence in Musa’s ability to “strengthen Nigeria’s security framework” and reposition the ministry amid growing insecurity. The nomination was also confirmed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Gen. Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has held numerous command and staff appointments. He served as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai in 2021, later headed the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, and was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.

His predecessor, Mohammed Badaru, who took office on August 21, 2023, resigned due to ill health. Badaru’s tenure had drawn public attention, especially after a BBC Hausa interview in which he noted that some terrorists were difficult to target because their forest hideouts were “too dense for bombs to reach.”

The confirmation of Musa is widely seen as a strategic step to reinforce Nigeria’s defence apparatus and tackle the country’s mounting security challenges.