…Tough-Talking Ex-CDS Sworn-In, Takes Charge at Ministry Of Defence
By Jeremy Fregene
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday deepened his administration’s sweeping security reforms with a two-pronged action plan: the National Economic Council’s (NEC) approval of ₦100 billion for the rehabilitation of police and security training institutions, and the swearing-in of retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence. The President charged the new minister to restore peace, ensure Nigerians can return to their farms, and guarantee that citizens once again “sleep with their eyes closed.”
The NEC, at its 154th virtual meeting, also approved ₦2.6 billion for consultancy services to support the overhaul of security training facilities. The allocation awaits the President’s final ratification. The decision followed the findings of an ad hoc committee led by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, which assessed the dire condition of training institutions nationwide—a reform first proposed by President Tinubu during NEC’s 152nd meeting.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chairs NEC, restated the administration’s commitment to moving from policy rhetoric to measurable results. He urged state governors to ensure reforms translate into tangible improvements in communities across the federation. “Our task is not to admire problems, but to solve them,” he said. “Reforms must be felt in markets, schools, clinics, and farms.”
Shortly after NEC’s meeting, President Tinubu swore in General Musa at the Presidential Villa. The ceremony was attended by key national figures including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Information Minister Mohammed Idris, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, among others.
Moments after taking the oath, General Musa declared that Nigerians would “see results in security within the shortest possible time.” He said his priority is to deepen coordination across the armed forces, intelligence services, and other security agencies, stressing that “security is everybody’s responsibility.”
He confirmed that President Tinubu specifically tasked him with restoring peace nationwide, enabling farmers to safely return to their fields, and ensuring children can go to school without fear. “The President has given me clear directives,” he said. “We must deliver.”
General Musa’s appointment came one day after a heated Senate screening where he voiced strong opposition to negotiating with armed groups and criticised the reintegration of former Boko Haram fighters. Instead, he called for tougher penalties for violent offenders and increased funding for military operations. He replaces Mohammed Badaru, who resigned due to “ill health.”
Bishop Kukah, who witnessed the swearing-in, expressed confidence in Musa’s leadership, saying the job is “in good hands.” He emphasised that restoring national normalcy “by any means possible” must now be Nigeria’s top priority.
Akinwumi Jacobs, a political observer, noted that Thursday’s developments reflect a coherent strategy: investing heavily in the foundational institutions that train security personnel while placing a tough, experienced, and reform-minded military strategist at the helm of the Defence Ministry.
He said that by pairing institutional rebuilding with decisive leadership, the Tinubu administration appears intent on accelerating the nation’s march toward stability, stronger security coordination, and renewed economic activity in Nigeria’s farmlands and communities.
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