Setting National Security Agenda for New Defence Minister

The newly confirmed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa( L) being congratulated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shortly after taking Oath of office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja....

Nigerians across the country are rallying around new Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, presenting him with a bold agenda for strengthening national security, writes Linus Aleke.

Nigerians from across the country have outlined their expectations for the newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, calling on him to spearhead reforms capable of revitalising the nation’s security framework. Citizens and security experts alike believe that his extensive military background places him in a unique position to confront long-standing threats such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and the proliferation of illegal arms. They stressed the importance of enhancing coordination among security agencies, strengthening intelligence gathering, and ensuring that frontline troops receive adequate welfare, equipment, and operational support.

Beyond these immediate priorities, many Nigerians are urging the new Minister to adopt innovative defence strategies that leverage advanced technology, intelligence-led operations, and stronger international partnerships. There is also a growing demand for improved transparency, better civil–military relations, and measures that will rebuild public confidence in the defence sector.

As General Musa steps into his role at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s security history, citizens are hopeful that his leadership will usher in a more effective, accountable, and forward-looking security architecture for the country.

Setting the agenda for the new Minister of Defence, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, Pine Atah, stressed that Nigeria already has a security architecture, and the new Minister will need to operate within it. He noted that no matter his patriotism and good intentions, if the security architecture does not provide him with the enabling environment to operate, he cannot succeed.

His ambitions and desires, Prof. Pine added, will come to nought if the security architecture is not conducive. “Therefore, he must engage with the policy environment. The security policy environment must be such that it supports his willingness to tackle the situation seamlessly. By this, I am referring to the fact that the National Security Adviser (NSA) is central. We may have a Minister of Defence, but the central figure is the National Security Adviser. He is the political head; he is not restricted to a ministry. He is the National Security Adviser to the President. The security architecture of this country, and the policy environment around security, must be recalibrated to reflect the desire, the intention, and the new spirit of confronting security threats.”

He further stated, “A critical study must also be carried out to identify regional peculiarities of criminality and the types of security threats that we face. Therefore, the new Minister should diversify the strategies aimed at addressing those threats according to their specific nature. I do not think the strategy for fighting jihadism should be the same as that for fighting kidnapping. Kidnappers are essentially economic criminals, whereas jihadists are ideologically driven. In the same vein, the new Minister must sit down with his team, examine the peculiarities of the security situation, and develop separate policy measures to address each threat accordingly.

“He must also push for government-to-government collaboration with advanced nations that possess high-level intelligence capabilities. In this instance, I have America in mind, because security is intelligence-driven. Nigeria’s intelligence architecture must therefore be upgraded, and one such upgrade should involve establishing intelligence-sharing agreements with countries that have the capacity to obtain real-time, actionable intelligence. Some nations can sit in America and know what is happening in Zamfara, while our own soldiers on the ground may not, due to limited technology.”

He added, “I would encourage the government to explore the use of technology in the fight against terrorism and other emerging security threats. Lastly, citizens must be carried along and given confidence in the confidentiality of the information they provide to security agencies. Currently, citizens are often unwilling to share information about criminal syndicates because state forces may leak it to criminal networks, revealing that Mr A provided the information, after which criminals may target Mr A. Therefore, citizens must have confidence in the confidentiality of the information they share with security agencies. This trust does not develop overnight; the government must create an environment that encourages people to volunteer information without fear of retaliation.

“Above all, the government must demonstrate political will to fight insecurity. No matter how good a policy is, how sound the security architecture may be, or how competent the individuals involved, if the political will is lacking, nothing will happen. It will be a case of the body being willing but the spirit weak.”

Chief of Administration (Navy), Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, said: “Musa is an exemplary leader who has instilled in us—his protégés—the discipline required to excel in military service, particularly at the strategic leadership level. I believe he will perform tremendously well as Minister of Defence. We are not in a position to set an agenda for him because he is our boss, but I can assure you that he will undoubtedly bring significant transformation.

“For instance, he is likely to address the problems of bureaucracy between the Ministry and the Services Headquarters. He operated from the inside, and now he is operating from the outside as a political head. He therefore understands the peculiarities of both sides and will be able to midwife a perfect synergy that will solve many of the challenges. He is the best choice for the nation.”

Chairman of the Board of Amnesty International, Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, urged Nigerians not to have excessive expectations that the new Minister will immediately address all security challenges confronting the nation.

He said: “Of course, there are several things he can do to ensure that the level of insecurity is minimised. First, he needs to ensure that corruption in defence procurement is blocked, at least at his own level. Secondly, he must intensify coordination, cooperation, partnership, and collaboration—issues that have long posed major challenges within Nigeria’s security sector. If, as Minister, he can achieve this, it will deserve commendation.

“He also needs to restore the dignity of the Nigerian Army. We cannot continue deploying the Army for every internal security operation when we have the Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies. The Army should be deployed only as a last resort, not stationed at checkpoints in communities. This practice has contributed to the erosion of public trust in the Army, especially when cases of extortion and human rights violations are recorded.

“Another critical area that requires the Minister’s attention is the welfare of troops. We cannot expect people who risk their lives defending the nation to return home with inadequate salaries and allowances. They must be properly cared for. He must also ensure that policies preventing soldiers from accessing their retirement benefits are eliminated. As a retired officer himself, he should understand the pain his fellow servicemen face.

“Promotions must be based on merit. The commercialisation and selective approach to promotions must be discouraged. The Minister must also prevent soldiers from being used by politicians to carry out dubious activities. We have seen situations where Army personnel visibly escort individuals who are not government officials—particularly internet fraudsters and disgruntled politicians who use them to harass opponents and innocent citizens.

“Another priority should be strengthening accountability. If soldiers commit atrocities, there must be a proper process to hold those responsible to account. Additionally, budgetary allocation is crucial. He must demonstrate to the public that he can succeed in tackling security threats when troops are provided with adequate facilities and equipment.

“Lastly, it would be a welcome development if soldiers were no longer used for election rigging or other forms of political involvement. The military’s role in past elections has damaged its credibility and public image. This must not be allowed to continue. Civil–military relations should also be significantly improved. These are the key priorities which, if addressed, will go a long way towards enhancing peace in Nigeria.”

Chairman of the Command Secondary School Kaduna Old Students’ Association (COMKADOSA), Abuja Chapter, Aaron Ogah, urged the Minister to go all out against the bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers disturbing the nation’s peace. “I urge him to replicate what he achieved as Chief of Defence Staff, now that he has even more authority as a Minister. He must ensure that the defence chiefs and commanders boost the morale of frontline troops so they can give their best in defending the nation. If the genuine needs of personnel are met, I believe insecurity will soon become a thing of the past.”

Expressing joy over Musa’s appointment as Minister, another old student, Philips Okwara, said: “General Musa is on board; he is back. I cried deep inside my heart when he was retired, and the joy returned to me when he was appointed Minister of Defence. He knows what to do. All we need is the right person in the right place, and he is a square peg in a square hole.”

Senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, Senator Salihu Mustapha, said: “The new Minister was, at one point, a theatre commander before becoming Chief of Defence Staff, and today he serves as Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic. I am confident that he will develop new strategies to further enhance the proactiveness of the military and other security agencies, placing us in a safer environment. All hands must be on deck to combat insecurity in our land. Whatever measures we must take as lawmakers to support him, we will take.”

As Nigeria confronts escalating security challenges, citizens have wasted no time in outlining their expectations for the new Defence Minister.