New defence minister faces toughest task in decades

…As threats from nine terrorist groups intensify

…Analysts seek stronger bipartisan support

Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s newly appointed defence minister, steps into office with the daunting task of confronting the country’s largest spread of terrorist factions in decades, while also maintaining troop morale across multiple battlefronts.

Musa is expected to contend with nine or more splinter groups, ranging from Boko Haram to Ansaru and Lakurawa, operating across the three northern regions.

Security analysts say the minister must dismantle these networks and sever their financial lifelines if he hopes to make meaningful progress.

Gen. Musa, widely regarded for his grit and operational experience, will now be tested on his ability to halt the rising wave of school abductions and the persistent killings plaguing vulnerable communities.

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Musa’s appointment continues to attract strong endorsements from stakeholders nationwide, with security experts noting that his leadership presents a crucial opportunity to halt and reverse Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

In separate interviews with BusinessDay, they urged Musa to confront the complex drivers of insecurity, from terror financing and criminal recruitment to the seizure of communities and neglect of vulnerable regions.

They called for national unity and political restraint in addressing security challenges.

Daunting challenge

Currently, Musa faces the growing threats from Boko Haram in the North-East, Ansaru in the North-West, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the North-East, Ansaru in the North-West, Lakurawa in the North-Central, bandits in the North-West, Sahel jihadist group in the North-East, Mahmuda in the North-East, among others. Analysts say it is a battle that the new defence chief is capable of fighting, being one of the six ex-defence ministers with military experience.

Nwokoma Messiah, director of Media and Publicity for the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), described Musa’s appointment as a “strategic, confidence-boosting decision.”

Speaking with BusinessDay in Abuja, Messiah said he was ‘elated’ by the choice of the ex-chief of defence staff, noting that his operational experience and deep knowledge of Nigeria’s security terrain make him well-suited for the role.

He cautioned political actors against weaponising insecurity for partisan benefits, stressing that security challenges have persisted across administrations.

“Politicians should stop leveraging insecurity to score political points. Every government has faced security challenges, from Obasanjo to Jonathan. Insecurity is a collective threat, not an opportunity for rivalry,” he said.

Messiah urged Nigerians to rally behind the new minister, adding that Musa’s first priority should be identifying and dismantling the financial networks that sustain terrorism.

According to him, terror sponsors, often individuals in positions of influence, must be exposed through deeper intelligence cooperation with Western countries.

Read also: Nigeria’s Defence Ministers since 1999 — and the conflicts that defined their time in office

He also called for stronger orientation and education programmes, warning that economic desperation and misinformation continue to push youths into kidnapping and banditry.

“People now believe that if they enter the bush to kidnap, they will become millionaires. Education and awareness are critical, but identifying the sponsors is the most important step,” he said.

Beni Lar, former House of Representatives member, also praised Musa’s appointment, saying his competence offers hope to communities devastated by violence.

Lar expressed concern over the scale of unreported killings and kidnappings, warning that Nigeria is increasingly viewed as unsafe even for its own citizens.

“Nigerians are being killed every day, and many cases are never reported. We pray that with his wealth of experience, General Musa will change this narrative,” she said.

She urged the minister to prioritise reclaiming communities seized by terrorists, particularly in Plateau and Benue States, where she said more than 420 communities have been occupied.

“Please let him give us back our land. Bring back our land and rescue the kidnapped girls, boys and women,” she appealed.

Leonard Oruah, an Abuja-based security expert, drew attention to the dire conditions in oil-rich Ohaji communities in Imo State, despite hosting major companies such as Shell, SEPLAT Energy, Watersmith, AGPC and ANO Gas Plant.

Oruah condemned the lack of electricity, potable water and youth empowerment initiatives, warning that the neglect increases vulnerability to insecurity.

“Despite hosting some of the biggest energy companies, communities here have no electricity, no drinking water, and no youth empowerment. These issues need urgent attention,” he said.

Princess–Eqwi Ajide, a security expert, expressed optimism that Musa’s tenure will bring renewed discipline, intelligence-driven operations and improved coordination across security agencies.

She urged Nigerians to support the minister’s efforts and resist politicising national security issues, stressing that unity and collective responsibility remain essential to restoring peace.

With the country battling terrorism, banditry, communal attacks, oil-region unrest and kidnapping, she believes that Musa’s leadership will be pivotal in rebuilding public confidence and securing vulnerable communities.

Who is Christopher Musa?

Musa is widely seen as one of the country’s most experienced and accomplished infantry commanders.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, he completed his early education in the state before proceeding to the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.

Musa enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree, earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant that same year.

His military career spans more than three decades and includes a wide range of critical command, training and operational roles across the Nigerian Army.

He previously served as General Staff Officer 1, Training and Operations, at Headquarters 81 Division, and later as Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion.

He also worked as assistant director of operational requirements at the Army Policy and Plans Department, and represented the Infantry Corps on the Nigerian Army Armour Corps Training Team.

In 2019, he became deputy chief of staff in charge of training and operations at the Infantry Centre and Corps.

Read also: Tinubu begins hunt for new Defence Minister after Badaru’s resignation

Musa’s operational prominence grew through his leadership in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency campaigns.

He commanded Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole and later headed Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin.

In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s major counterterrorism operation in the Northeast.

He subsequently served as Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff in 2023, a position he held until October 2025.

His service has earned him several recognitions, including the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is regarded as a strategic thinker with deep field experience, qualities that have positioned him for his new role in leading the Defence Ministry.

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