President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in Rtd. General Christopher Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, marking a significant move in the government’s efforts to tackle the country’s worsening security challenges.

The ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, came just 24 hours after the Senate confirmed Musa’s appointment following an intensive five-hour screening session on Wednesday.

While speaking with journalists after taking the oath of office, the 57-year-old retired general assured Nigerians of visible improvements in the nation’s security situation.

“I can assure you, within the shortest possible time, Nigerians will see results,” Musa said. “I want to use this medium to appreciate all Nigerians. Nigerians have shown me love, and I will guarantee them that I am going to work, whatever it takes, to ensure that Nigeria is secured. He emphasized the importance of building synergy within the security apparatus and called for support from citizens.

Musa’s appointment comes at a highly unstable moment for Nigeria’s security landscape, with the country facing a sharp surge in mass abductions, bandit attacks, and kidnappings across several regions which has attracted global concern, with US President Donald Trump warning of possible military action over the killings and what he described as the mass slaughter of Christians in Nigeria.

Musa, who served as Chief of Defence Staff from June 2023 until October 2025, takes over from Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned from the position earlier this week. However, during his Senate screening on Wednesday, Musa outlined a firm position against negotiating with criminals, particularly regarding ransom payments for kidnap victims.

He proposed leveraging technology to track ransom payments, arguing that such payments fuel criminal activities and undermine national security efforts.

“The use of technology is very important. If we are able to have a database; every Nigerian has a number linked to everything you have electronically, we can monitor everything,” he told senators. He maintained that ransom payment “compromises security” and weakens the fight against criminal elements.

With decades of military experience and recent service as the nation’s top military officer, Musa now faces the daunting task of coordinating Nigeria’s defence strategy against multiple security threats spanning insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and separatist agitations.