Tinubu Hails Musa’s Confirmation as Defence Minister: ‘No More Negotiations with Criminals’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the Nigerian Senate for quickly confirming General Christopher Musa (rtd.) as the nation’s new Minister of Defence, calling the appointment “timely and crucial” for addressing Nigeria’s security challenges. In a post on his official X handle on Thursday, Tinubu praised the legislature for its swift action.

“Two days ago, I transmitted the name of General Christopher G. Musa, our immediate past Chief of Defence Staff and a fine gentleman, to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation as the Federal Minister of Defence,” the President wrote. “I want to commend the Nigerian Senate for its expedited confirmation of General Musa yesterday. His appointment comes at a critical juncture in our lives as a Nation. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

General Musa, who was screened and confirmed on Wednesday, told the Senate that the era of negotiating with bandits or paying ransoms to kidnappers is over. “There is no negotiation with any criminal,” he said. He warned that ransom payments allow terrorists to regroup, re-arm, and plan new attacks, often leaving communities still at risk.

He also highlighted the importance of integrating Nigeria’s financial and security systems to track illicit flows, as well as establishing a unified national database linking identity, banking, and security information. Stressing that military force alone cannot end insecurity, Musa noted that factors like poverty, poor governance, and weak local structures continue to fuel violence across the country.