The Senate on Wednesday commenced the screening of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), following his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.
The screening exercise began moments after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s request during plenary, urging lawmakers to confirm Musa as replacement for former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday citing health challenges.
Akpabio directed a suspension of Senate rules to allow the retired military chief into the chamber for formal screening.
In the nomination letter transmitted to the upper chamber on Tuesday, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Musa’s capacity to “strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture” and reposition the ministry amid spiralling nationwide insecurity.
The Presidency had earlier confirmed the nomination in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
General Musa, commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, rose through several command and staff positions. He served as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai in 2021, later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, and was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
His predecessor, Badaru, assumed office on August 21, 2023, but stepped down this week after admitting that deteriorating health had limited his ability to effectively manage the ministry’s duties. President Tinubu has accepted his resignation.
Badaru recently faced public criticism following a BBC Hausa interview in which he claimed that dense forest hideouts made it difficult for troops to strike certain terrorist camps.
The Senate is expected to conclude Musa’s screening and communicate its confirmation decision to the Presidency.
Starnews had earlier reported Musa’s impending nomination, noting that he had met with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa and had been informed of his selection to lead the Defence Ministry.
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