The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence after an intense three-hour screening that featured rare bipartisan firmness, loud protests, and renewed scrutiny of the country’s worsening security challenges.
The Red Chamber rejected early calls for the nominee to “take a bow and go,” opting instead for a rigorous interrogation that focused on defence funding, intelligence failures, technology gaps, rising banditry, terrorist infiltration, and the recent surge in kidnappings and military lapses.
The screening came as the Senate initiated fresh legislation to classify kidnapping as a terrorist offence, proposing the death penalty without the option of a fine — a move Senate President Godswill Akpabio said would strengthen the incoming minister’s legal mandate.
Drama as Senators Reject ‘Bow and Go’
Tensions rose when Senator Sani Musa suggested allowing the nominee to take a bow and go, citing security discussions previously held in closed-door sessions.
The chamber erupted in protest: “No! No! No!” several lawmakers shouted.
Senate President Akpabio intervened, invoking Senate rules: “Whenever the Senate President rises, everyone must keep quiet.”
He stressed the gravity of the moment.
“This is not a time for bow and go. Our constituents are asking questions. Our children, brothers, sisters are in the bush. Even Donald Trump is on our neck.”
Akpabio also questioned reports that troops were allegedly ordered to withdraw before schoolchildren were kidnapped in Kebbi, demanding clarity on who leaked sensitive military information involving a senior officer.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin noted that insurgency had been declining until what he described as the “infamous statement” by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which he claimed worsened Nigeria’s security climate.
General Musa: “No Negotiation With Criminals”
In his responses, Gen. Musa took a firm stance:
“No negotiation with criminals. Nigeria must stop ransom payments, and states must not engage in deals that compromise national security.”
He emphasised that military action alone cannot end insecurity.
“Good governance, justice and equity are key. Security is local. We must carry the people along. Only 25–30% of this war is kinetic. The rest is governance.”
Musa also called for improved technology, perimeter fencing in schools, and stronger community cooperation to curb mass kidnappings. He criticised delays in terrorism trials, saying they demoralise security agencies.
On the recent capture of a brigade commander by insurgents, he stated:
“We will not allow terrorists to build such capacity. We will investigate fully, and anyone found culpable will face the law. There must be no indolence in the Armed Forces.”
Senators Question Military’s Inferior Firepower
Senators Mohammed Onawo, Abdul Ningi, Ali Ndume and others pressed Musa on why bandits appear to possess more advanced weapons than the Nigerian military.
Ningi asked pointedly: “Why are we seeing bandits with more sophisticated weapons while our officers still carry AK-47s?”
Musa admitted gaps in technology and intelligence integration and promised urgent reforms.
Ndume urged him to push for placing the Armed Forces on First Line Charge, allowing them to draw funds directly from the Federation Account like INEC and UBEC.
“Security is too important for foot-dragging,” Ndume said, adding that the welfare of troops must also be prioritised.
Reforms and Action Plan
Musa outlined several key priorities, including:
• Withdrawal of soldiers from routine checkpoints, allowing police and civil defence to take over
• Redeployment of troops into forests to directly confront terrorists
• Tighter synergy with governors and MDAs
• Aggressive community engagement, as practised in Maiduguri
• Crackdown on illegal mining linked to terrorism financing
• Expanded maritime security under Operation Delta Safe
• Improved border surveillance, especially along the Cameroon axis
• Protection of farmlands to boost food security
• Digitally backed recruitment and a unified national database
He pledged to return to the Senate within three weeks of assuming office for a closed-door briefing on defence gaps and required legislative support.
Musa acknowledged the weight of public expectation:
“I felt the heat when my name was announced. I cannot afford to fail myself, my nation or my family.”
Senate Moves to Criminalise Kidnapping With Death Penalty
Senate President Akpabio confirmed that the process of categorising kidnapping as a terrorist act is underway.
“We are giving you the enabling framework,” he told Musa. “If they are not deterred, they will face the death sentence.”
With the screening completed and his confirmation secured, General Musa now faces the daunting task of steering Nigeria’s defence sector through one of its most critical periods.