PRESIDENT TINUBU SWEARS IN GENERAL MUSA AS DEFENCE MINISTER

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in General Christopher Musa (retd.) as the new Minister of Defence, a move aimed at bolstering Nigeria's security architecture. Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff, took the oath of office on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, following his confirmation by the Senate after a rigorous five hours screening on Wednesday. During his screening, Musa was grilled over security lapses, including the controversial withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School in Kebbi State before the schoolgirls were abducted on November 17. He said he would "immediately set up a full scale investigation" into the incident once he resumes duty. Musa also vow to probe the killing of Brigade Commander, Brig-Gen. Musa Uba in Borneo State, along with other attacks on senior military officers. General Musa was born in Sokoto in 1967, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. He was a recipient of the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012. He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023 and retired in 2025). Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, and Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. Musa's appointment comes after the resignation of former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru on health grounds. With his appointment, the new Defence Minister is expected to immediately assume duties and consolidate recent security gains and fast-track reforms aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability nationwide. In attendance during the swearing-in are Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and also the wife of the new Minister, Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Hassan Kukah and Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs (rtd).