BREAKING: Tinubu Swears-in Musa As Defence Minister Amid Heightened Security Concerns

General Christopher Musa (Rtd) has been sworn in as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, coming just hours after his confirmation by the Senate.

Musa, who previously served as Chief of Defence Staff, arrived at the State House around 3 p.m. in the company of the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Oluoyede Kayode.

His confirmation earlier in the week generated significant public interest after senators declined to grant him the customary “bow and go” privilege. Instead, the upper chamber subjected him to an extended screening session focusing on Nigeria’s deepening security challenges.

During the session, lawmakers questioned Musa on critical national security issues, including defence funding gaps, intelligence lapses, technological weaknesses in military operations, rising banditry, terrorist infiltration, recent operational shortcomings, and the surge in nationwide kidnappings.