BY EDMOND ODOK – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn-in the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa (rtd) as the new Minister of Defence.
Reports indicated that General Musa arrived the forecourt of the presidential Villa at about 3:47 p.m. and was immediately ushered into the President’s office.
According to a post on his X platform, Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga said Musa took the oath of office on Thursday afternoon at the State House, Abuja.
Top government functionaries who witnessed the ceremony include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire; and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Others were wife of the Defence Minister, Mrs Lilian Oghogho Musa; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and retired Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs
Following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed General Musa as the Defence Minister after about five hours of rigorous question and answer session
During the session, the former CDS was grilled over recent security lapses, including the controversial withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, shortly before the schoolgirls were abducted on November 17, 2025
Disclosing his resolve to “immediately set up a full-scale investigation” into the troop withdrawal once he assumes duty, General Musa also promised to probe the killing of Brigade Commander Brig-Gen. Musa Uba in Borno State, along with other attacks on senior military officers and personnel.
The former Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the North-East counter-insurgency’s nomination followed the resignation of former Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru, reportedly on health grounds.
Serving as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, he coordinated the joint operations against Boko Haram/ISWAP and bandit networks before his retirement this October 2025.
A career infantry officer, he previously held command and staff postings across multiple formations and tri-service headquarters, giving him experience that spans field combat, training, and joint operational planning.
