President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Musa’s appointment follows the resignation of former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on December 1. His nomination was sent to the Senate on Tuesday and swiftly confirmed.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1991. He served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until his retirement in October 2025, during which he promoted stronger cooperation among the armed forces.

With his swearing-in, Musa is expected to immediately take charge as the Tinubu administration intensifies security reforms and seeks to consolidate recent gains toward lasting peace nationwide.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Information Minister Mohammed Idris, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and senior military chiefs. Also present were Musa’s wife, Lilian Oghogho Musa; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and retired Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs.

The Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa (rtd), the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.

Musa’s nomination was approved on Wednesday after a screening session in which senators examined his military credentials and asked questions on national security challenges.

Addressing the lawmakers, Musa pledged commitment to diligent service and emphasised collaboration in tackling insecurity.

“The challenges we are facing are Nigerian challenges, not just for the armed forces or security agencies,” he said. “We will win if we work together as a team.”

He highlighted gaps in security operations and called for a unified national database to support intelligence gathering. Musa also urged stronger roles for local governments and the judicial system.

Rejecting ransom payments to kidnappers and terrorists, he warned that negotiation only emboldens criminals. “They use the money to buy more arms,” he noted.

Responding to claims of religious targeting in violence across the country, Musa said terrorism affects all citizens. “We must stop the killings. Nigerians should not be killed. We must unite,” he stated.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised Musa’s performance during the screening, describing him as the most thorough nominee since 1999. He encouraged the new minister to immediately visit defence industry facilities.

Musa’s nomination was subsequently approved through a unanimous voice vote.

In a decisive move to stem rising insecurity, the Senate has approved key amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, prescribing the death penalty for kidnappers and anyone who aids kidnapping operations.

During Wednesday’s plenary, senators across political lines overwhelmingly supported the bill sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. The amendment seeks to classify kidnapping, hostage-taking, and related offences as acts of terrorism, granting law enforcement broader powers to dismantle criminal networks.

The bill has now been referred to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, National Security and Intelligence, and Interior for further scrutiny, with instructions to report back within two weeks.

Presenting the proposal, Bamidele said kidnapping had evolved from sporadic activity into organised violence affecting all regions of the country. He argued that the severity and scale of the crime now bear the hallmarks of terrorism, warranting the strongest punishment.

> “Kidnapping has instilled fear in communities, disrupted economic activities, ruined families, and claimed countless innocent lives,” he declared. “Our legal framework must reflect the magnitude of this threat.”

The amendment prescribes capital punishment not only for perpetrators but also for financiers, informants, logistics suppliers, harbourers, and anyone who knowingly supports kidnapping operations. Attempt, conspiracy, or incitement would attract the same penalty.

The Senate leader explained that reclassification under terrorism laws would enable intelligence-led operations, asset tracing, inter-agency cooperation, and disruption of funding channels.

Backing the proposal, Senator Adams Oshiomhole dismissed existing deradicalisation programmes as ineffective, arguing that some offenders return to crime after release.

> “Even Scriptures acknowledge that those who kill cannot be allowed to continue living,” Oshiomhole said. “If convicted for terrorism, the penalty should be death.”

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu lamented the suffering inflicted on Nigerians, citing cases of widows, traumatised families and victims of sexual assault.

> “Everyone involved in this criminal enterprise must face consequences,” he maintained.

Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro described kidnapping as a business venture for criminals and endorsed the bill as a necessary measure to deter offenders.

Also speaking, Senator Victor Umeh condemned the killing of victims after ransom payment and called for sanctions against facilitators, including complicit financial institutions.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, welcomed the bipartisan support and mandated the lead committee to expedite consultations and present recommendations at a public hearing.

The proposed amendment marks one of the strongest legislative responses to Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping crisis, signalling a toughened stance on national security and criminal justice.