The newly appointed Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, on Friday declared that the era of innocent bloodshed in Nigeria was over.
Musa spoke upon assuming office at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Abuja.
He promised to lead with urgency, responsibility and a renewed sense of national purpose.
Musa, who until now served as Chief of Defense Staff, said he would return to the ministry with the backing of President Bola Tinubu and the confidence of the Nigerian people.
“After 39 years of service to become and now Minister of Defence, the love that Nigerians have shown us shows that people believe that we can turn the tide.
“Change will not come from rhetoric, but from action by all Nigerians. Firstly, as Nigerians, we must take responsibility for the challenges we have in our country; only we can solve the problem.
“The shedding of innocent blood is over. Citizens have the right to live without fear. Our children should be able to go back to school. Farmers should be able to go back to their farms,” he said.
Musa assured that the well-being of military personnel and their families was essential to restore public confidence and operational effectiveness.
According to him, whoever gives his life for his country deserves the greatest respect.
He promised that the ministry would act quickly to ensure that troops receive necessary kits, immediate operational assignments, adequate accommodation and medical care, especially for the wounded and grieving families.
In outlining his vision for the Ministry of Defence, Musa established three key pillars: operational effectiveness, unified action across services and strategic foresight.
He promised a rigorous review of all theater commands and inter-service operations to eliminate silos, adding that once decisions were made, they should act as a united team.
The new minister flagged technology and intelligence as vital components of Nigeria’s defense architecture and promised to leverage partnerships with allies and strengthen coordination with other security agencies.
He said data, not just experience, should guide decisions.
Musa warned that there would be zero tolerance for indiscipline, corruption or bureaucratic delays.
“If we make mistakes, we must take steps to make sure we make amends,” he said.
Musa further underlined the importance of a motivated workforce and described morale as a “force multiplier”.
He urged all ministry staff, both uniformed and civilian, to give their best and take the initiative without waiting for instructions.
He also recognized the role of the public service, calling it “the institutional memory and the framework of our sustainability.”
He said he counted on their diligence to translate military objectives into viable administrative and budgetary policies.
Musa called for unity, determination and faith among all Nigerians.
“We are going to continue working hard. The task ahead of us is enormous, but very manageable. We can win. We will win,” he stated.
In his remarks, Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Richard Pheelangwa described the minister’s inauguration as a significant moment for the ministry and the nation’s security architecture.
Pheelangwa said management and staff were fully committed to supporting Musa’s leadership, noting that his appointment by President Bola Tinubu reflected the country’s confidence in his experience and capabilities.
He said the ministry, established 67 years ago and composed of civilian and military personnel, remains dedicated to professionalism, integrity and accountability in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Also speaking, the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, said Musa’s inauguration marked a new phase of sincerity, unity and collective action to address the nation’s security challenges.
Oluyede assured the minister of the full support of the Armed Forces and said the military leadership was committed to strengthening public confidence and improving operational outcomes.
“We are happy to have you here and look forward to a more robust approach to solving our challenges.
“We must be sincere about our approach and address these issues collectively,” he said.
“We must get the minister’s buy-in to push the process forward, and the government must also show willpower to ensure it is carried out,” he said.
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