By Our Correspondent
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following an extensive screening that centred on the nation’s deepening security challenges and the capacity of the incoming minister to restore stability.
During the session, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) stood out as one of the strongest advocates for reforms aimed at improving the safety, morale, and recruitment of Nigerian soldiers.
The lawmaker expressed concern over the waning interest of young Nigerians—particularly those from the Southeast—in joining the armed forces, attributing the decline to fear of deployment to volatile conflict zones in the North.
Umeh urged the new Defence Minister to make troop protection a top priority, arguing that the government must demonstrate seriousness in safeguarding the lives of serving personnel.
“Our youths must see the army as a viable and safe career option,” he said, adding. “Nigeria is expecting much from our defence leadership to restore confidence and patriotism among young Nigerians, especially in the Southeast.”
The senator also pressed for fairness in recruitment, calling for an equitable distribution of enlistment quotas across all regions to strengthen national unity and ensure equal opportunity.
Senator Umeh’s remarks drew attention within the chamber, mirroring growing public concern about the state of military welfare and the need to rebuild trust in national service.
As Gen. Musa assumes office, Nigerians—especially in the Southeast—will be watching closely to see whether the renewed calls for fair recruitment and stronger troop protection translate into meaningful reform.
