Defence Minister–designate, Major General Christopher Musa (rtd), on Thursday issued a powerful appeal for collective national action as he appeared before the Senate for his ministerial screening, stressing that Nigeria can only overcome its security challenges through unity and shared responsibility.

Addressing lawmakers during the session, Musa warned that the threats confronting the country are driven by what he described as “evil forces” with no value for human life or national stability.

He said the scope and nature of insecurity demand a broad, coordinated response from citizens, government institutions and the armed forces.

According to him, tackling terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes cannot be left solely to the military or security agencies. Instead, he emphasized, Nigeria must adopt a whole-of-society approach if it is to close the space in which criminal networks operate.

“We need the support of every Nigerian,” Musa told the senators, noting that national security challenges have grown increasingly complex.

“This is a team effort. The enemies we are confronting are ruthless and have no regard for the lives of our people or the future of this nation. That is why unity is critical. If we do not stand and work together, we risk giving these destructive elements the opportunity to continue the horrors they have been perpetrating.”

The minister–designate reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening coordination among the armed forces and improving collaboration with civilian populations in affected communities.

He assured lawmakers that, if confirmed, he would pursue strategies that boost operational effectiveness while restoring public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.

Musa’s remarks received notable attention in the chamber, with several senators applauding his clarity of purpose and his emphasis on inclusiveness in addressing Nigeria’s longstanding security concerns.

His confirmation is expected to be considered alongside those of other nominees as the Senate concludes its screening exercise.

The Minister of Defence – Designate until his nomination for the new role had a flourishing military career. His abridged profile shows that, General Christopher Musa was born on December 25, 1967 in Sokoto, Sokoto State.

Musa attended both primary and secondary schools in Sokoto, before proceeded to the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria, graduating in 1986.

In 1986 he was later admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant the same year.

Over his more than three decades of service, Musa has held numerous significant positions among them are; General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations) at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer of the 73 Battalion; Assistant Director for Operational Requirements in the Department of Army Policy and Plans; a member of the Training Team at the Nigerian Army Armour Corps Headquarters.

In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations) at Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps, then as Commander of Sector 3 during Operation Lafiya Dole, and also Commander of Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad region.

In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander for Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.

On 19 June 2023, Musa was appointed as the 18th Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of Nigeria, the highest-ranking military officer in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He served as CDS until 24 October 2025, when he stepped down as part of a broader military leadership shake-up.

The Defence Minister – Designate is a recipient of the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering, a recognition of exceptional service which he received in 2012.

His long and distinguished career, marked by frontline command and strategic leadership in multiple theatres of operation, has earned him broad respect within the military and national security circles.

On December 2, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated him as the new Ministry of Defence head, a move widely interpreted as leveraging his operational experience to steer Nigeria’s defence policy amid mounting security challenges.

His appointment is widely applauded by Nigerians and among such commendations is Charles Awuzie who said, “Everything our incoming Minister of Defence said today was about technology. That is why I am rooting for this brilliant, highly disciplined and honest Man – General Christopher Musa.

“I do not praise anyone – I am not a praise singer. But if I tell you that someone is good believe me. General Musa is a rare breed. This is the best decision President Tinubu has made so far.

“General Chris Musa, the whole nation is behind you. The era of military technology advancement has come upon Nigeria. The dark era is gone. General knows that we need a National Database and he will push for it. He knows we need ability to track every criminal through Database querying – and he is coming to solve that.

“I predict that cybersecurity will be the most needed skill in Nigeria soon. Once the database is built, it will be protected by experts in cybersecurity. Nigeria is coming back and the enemies of Nigeria never saw this coming”.