New Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has said that there are gaps within the armed forces militating against moves to successfully confront the challenges of insecurity in the country.
He noted this in Abuja during a four-hour screening before the Senate, where he was confirmed following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to the Senate to appoint the former Chief of Defence Staff as a replacement for Abubakar Badaru, who recently resigned from the position.
The retired general pledged swift action to curb nationwide insecurity and restore public confidence in the armed forces.
He said, “We can win this war, but we must work together. We must get the support because I can tell you, there are still a lot of gaps within the armed forces; that is also militating against them being able to fully achieve success in what we’re doing
“And like I said, we need the state governors; we need everyone to be on board for us to be able to achieve that.”
He gave assurance to lawmakers and citizens that visible improvements would be recorded within a short period once he assumes office.
He said, “I want to assure Nigerians that coming on board, having served 39 years all through my career in the armed forces, we have seen what is going on, we have understood what is going on, and we know what we need.
“All I’m appealing, Sir, is that with your approval, once we come on stream, we’re going to come back to you, Sir, to show you exactly what we need for us to do better, for us to achieve success.”
He declared that “Nigerians must not be killed for any reason.”
In his passionate remarks during the question-and-answer session, General Musa said safeguarding lives would be his first priority.
“We must stop the killings. Nigerians must not be killed for whatever reason. Farmers should go back to their farms, our children must not be scared of their schools, and Nigeria must return to how it used to be,” he said.
He asked for a closed-door briefing with the Senate three weeks after assuming office to present a security roadmap and outline required support.
Musa said he was aware of the presence of saboteurs within the system but assured that the military already has mechanisms for identifying and prosecuting errant personnel.
“There will always be the good, the bad, and the ugly. Once we identify the bad ones, we take action. Court-martials across the country handle such offences,” he said.
General Musa warned against negotiating with terrorists and bandits, saying troops are empowered to act decisively once deployed.
“If any personnel tells you he is waiting for an order before defending himself, his colleagues, or the community, he is lying. The order is automatic,” he declared firmly.
Musa highlighted the high cost of modern warfare, noting that Nigeria must plan realistically. He cited examples such as a drone missile costing about $100,000 (roughly N150 million), and the enormous fuel consumption of naval vessels.
“When you see something and report, action is taken, and we get results. Intelligence is critical,” he said.
The general also identified social media as a major disruptor, saying it affects the professionalism of the armed forces and requires careful handling.
