- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has sworn-in the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), as the new Minister of Defence.
This is coming hours after the Senate’s approval of his appointment by Tinubu.
Musa who replaced Mohammed Badaru was sworn in at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
A post shared on X by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, further confirmed the development.
As captured in the post, Musa could be holding a Bible as he took his oath of office to formalise his appointment after five-hour probe by the Senate.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army in 1991 and had a distinguished military career. He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023 and retired in October 2025.
As Chief of Defence Staff, he championed inter-service security collaboration.
With his swearing-in, the new Defence Minister is expected to immediately assume duties as the Tinubu administration seeks to consolidate recent security gains and fast-track reforms aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability nationwide.
NPO Reported that the ex-CDS had yesterday appeared before the red chamber for his screening.
The event however took longer than usual as lawmakers scrutinised Musa with loads of questions.
While managing the field most of the questions, drama still ensued at the Senate after one of the lawmakers, Sen. Sani Musa raised a motion for the former Army to bow out of the screening as he cited the sensitivity of the nature of questions and Musa responses as it pertains to national security.
This was vehemently protested by his motion.
The outrage and mixed reactions lasted over three minutes before the Senate President Godswill Akpabio called the lawmakers to order and resume the screening exercise.
Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony had in attendance notable dignitaries which include Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. Adeniyi Adegbonmire; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Also in attendance were the spouse of the new Minister, Mrs Lilian Oghogho Musa; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs (rtd).