Shedding of Innocent Blood is Over, We Have No Time – New Defence Minister Declares

By Emmanuel Kwada

Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), has issued a forceful declaration on his first day in office: the era of senseless killings and insecurity that has traumatised millions of Nigerians is over.

‎Speaking shortly after taking over at the Ship House headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, the former Chief of Defence Staff warned that the armed forces and the ministry “do not have time to waste.”

Gen Christopher Musa inspecting a quarter guard mounted in his honour, at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.

‎“We do not have time,” General Musa said emphatically. “We are going to continue to hit the ground running. We must respect the human rights of Nigerians.

‎Our loyalty is to Nigeria and the Nigerian people. Shedding of innocent blood is over. Our children should be able to go back to school. Farmers should be able to go back to their farms without fear. And with the support and prayers we are getting from all Nigerians, we cannot fail.”

‎The minister’s remarks were greeted with applause from service chiefs, top military officers, and senior civil servants who gathered for the brief but charged handover ceremony.

‎Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Defence Staff, immediately pledged the full backing of the armed forces. “I want to assure the Honourable Minister that collectively we will support this cause and make Nigerians believe more in us. Going forward, Nigeria will be better,” he stated.

We are going to continue to hit the ground running. We do not have time to waste.

‎Richard Pheelangwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, also reaffirmed the readiness of the civil service component: “We stand ready to work diligently under your guidance, upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, discipline, and accountability.”

‎General Musa, who was sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, 4 December 2025, after Senate confirmation the previous day, wasted no time in setting the tone for his tenure.

‎After inspecting a quarter guard mounted in his honour, he held a closed-door strategic session with the service chiefs – Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and other principal staff officers – to map out immediate operational priorities.

Shedding of innocent blood is over. Our children should be able to go back to school.

‎The new minister promised a renewed focus on joint and intelligence-driven operations, improved troop welfare, and the rapid deployment of technology to confront banditry, insurgency, kidnapping-for-ransom, and other forms of violent crime that have crippled farming, education, and commerce, especially in northern and central Nigeria.

‎His track record of coordinating successful counter-insurgency operations in the North-East and intensified campaigns against bandits in the North-West has earned him respect both within the military and among governors of affected states.

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‎As the minister settles into his new role, Nigerians from all walks of life have taken to social media and radio phone-in programmes to express cautious optimism. Farmers in Zamfara, parents in Borno, and business owners in Kaduna say they are praying that the strong words translate into visible peace on the ground.

‎For now, one message from the new sheriff at Ship House is ringing loud and clear across the country: the shedding of innocent blood is over – and there is no time to lose.

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, received a rousing welcome by officials of the Ministry, who sang solidary songs, as he formally assumed office today in Abuja.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, also led a delegation of service chiefs to receive the… https://t.co/RX5R4eAY2e pic.twitter.com/Jjvonr7ZDW

— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) December 5, 2025

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