Ex-CDS Musa Highlights High Cost of Modern Military Technology During Ministerial Screening
Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), on Wednesday briefed the Senate on the significant financial demands of modern warfare, revealing that a single medium-range precision missile used in drone operations costs $100,000, approximately N150 million.
Speaking during his ministerial screening, Musa emphasized that each missile fired, regardless of whether it hits its target, represents a substantial expenditure. He stressed that the high cost of contemporary military technology calls for careful budgeting and strategic deployment.
“A medium-range precision missile for a drone costs $100,000, which is about N150 million. Once it is fired, N150 million is spent, whether it hits or misses,” Musa told lawmakers.
The retired defence chief underscored that these figures highlight the need for improved defence planning and greater investment in technology-driven operations, especially as Nigeria continues to face terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges. He added that the military must adapt to modern combat realities, which increasingly rely on sophisticated and expensive equipment.
Musa appeared before the Senate following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s request during plenary, urging lawmakers to consider and approve Musa as the replacement for former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who resigned citing health reasons. To facilitate Musa’s screening, Akpabio suspended Senate rules to allow the retired military chief entry into the chamber.
In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Musa’s ability to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework and reposition the ministry amid worsening insecurity. The nomination was also confirmed publicly by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
During the screening, Akpabio reprimanded Senator Sani Musa for suggesting that the nominee should “take a bow and go,” stating that Nigeria’s security challenges made such a casual approach inappropriate. After a rigorous five-hour session, General Musa was confirmed as the nation’s new Minister of Defence.
Musa’s appointment comes at a critical time as the government seeks to reinforce its defence infrastructure and curb insurgency, banditry, and other security threats. Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1991 as a Second Lieutenant and rose through various command and staff roles. In 2021, he served as Theatre Commander for Operation Hadin Kai and later headed the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before becoming Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
His predecessor, Badaru, who assumed office in August 2023, resigned on Monday, citing health challenges that prevented him from effectively performing his duties. Badaru had recently faced criticism after stating in a BBC Hausa interview that some terrorists were hard to target due to the density of their forest hideouts.
