General Christopher Musa sworn on as Nigeria’s new Defence Minister

Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), on Thursday officially assumed duties as the country’s new Minister of Defence after taking the oath of office at the State House in Abuja.

The ceremony, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, underscored the administration’s ongoing efforts to overhaul and strengthen the national security framework. President Tinubu urged the new minister to deploy his vast operational experience and deep understanding of Nigeria’s defence institutions to reinforce the country’s security capabilities.

Musa’s appointment, endorsed by the Senate just a day earlier, comes at a critical period as the government intensifies security reforms and seeks to consolidate recent military gains against insurgency, banditry, and other violent crimes.

Addressing the nation shortly after administering the oath, President Tinubu called for enhanced coordination among the armed services, accelerated defence reforms, and sustained momentum in joint operations nationwide. He also highlighted the need for transparency in defence procurement, improved troop welfare, and stronger collaboration among security agencies.

General Musa—who served as the 18th Chief of Defence Staff until June—is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished military officers. Having led major counterterrorism operations in the North-East and supervised broad military engagements across the country, he is expected to bring discipline, clarity, and strategic focus to defence leadership.

In his remarks, Musa pledged unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and supporting the President’s vision for a safer nation. He vowed to enhance operational efficiency, modernise defence systems, deepen intelligence-driven operations, and expand cooperation with regional and international partners.

“We will sustain the pressure on all threats to our country and work tirelessly to restore peace to every community,” he assured, noting that troop morale, civilian cooperation, and intelligence synergy would remain top priorities.

Following the ceremony, senior government figures—including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, service chiefs, and Federal Executive Council members—congratulated the new minister, expressing optimism that his leadership would usher in a more coordinated and effective security strategy.

Musa’s swearing-in ends weeks of uncertainty surrounding the Defence Ministry after the exit of former minister Abubakar Badaru. His emergence has been widely applauded by security experts who believe that placing a seasoned officer at the helm signals a renewed commitment to professionalism and robust defence policy execution.

The new minister is expected to convene his first round of strategic briefings with service chiefs and top ministry officials in the coming days as he begins shaping Nigeria’s defence priorities for the years ahead.