The Senate on Wednesday confirmed General Christopher Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, succeeding Abubakar Badaru, who recently resigned reportedly due to health reasons.

During his screening at the National Assembly in Abuja, Musa, a retired general and former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), outlined his strategic vision for strengthening Nigeria’s security framework. He pledged swift action to tackle nationwide insecurity and restore public confidence in the armed forces, emphasising national unity, collaboration, and collective resolve.

Musa warned of adversaries “that don’t mean this country well,” highlighting the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region. He called for stronger border security, better resourcing of security agencies, and enhanced cooperation with neighbouring countries to prevent instability from spilling into Nigeria.

“I pledge to do my best to ensure that Nigeria is secure and safe. We need the support of every Nigerian working together, because the enemies we are dealing with have no respect for human lives,” Musa said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Musa’s professionalism and responsiveness during his tenure as CDS, noting his role in stabilising the South-west and urging him to apply similar strategies in the North-west and North-central regions. Senators including Mohammed Monguno and Ahmad Lawan also praised his operational experience, patriotism, and firm leadership, stressing the need for adequate funding to support his initiatives.

Musa is expected to assume office immediately and begin implementing the reforms he presented to the Senate.