The newly appointed Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, on Friday declared that the era of shedding innocent blood in Nigeria was over.
Musa spoke as he assumed office at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
He vowed to lead with urgency, accountability and a renewed sense of national purpose.
Musa, who until now served as Chief of Defence Staff, said he was returning to the ministry with the backing of President Bola Tinubu and the trust of the Nigerian people.
“After having 39 years in service to come in and now be a Minister of Defence, the love Nigerians have shown us shows that people believe that we can turn the tide.
“Change will not come from rhetoric, but through action by all Nigerians. We must, firstly as Nigerians, take ownership of the responsibilities of the challenges we have in our country; it is only us that can solve the problem.
The shedding of innocent blood is over. Citizens have a right to live without fear. Our children should be able to go back to school. The farmers should be able to go back to their farms,” he said.
Musa assured that the welfare of military personnel and their families was central to restoring public confidence and operational effectiveness.
According to him, anybody who is laying down his life for his country deserves to be given the best respect.
He pledged that the ministry would act swiftly to ensure that troops receive needed kits, prompt operational allowances, proper accommodation and medical care, especially for the injured and bereaved families.
Outlining his vision for the defence ministry, Musa laid out three core pillars: operational effectiveness, unified action across services, and strategic foresight.
He pledged a rigorous review of all theatre commands and inter-service operations to eliminate silos, adding that once decisions were taken, they should move as one united team.
The new minister pointed to technology and intelligence as vital components of Nigeria’s defence architecture, promising to tap into partnerships with allies and strengthen coordination with other security agencies.
