Gen. Musa Confirmed as Defence Minister, Advocates National Database to Combat Cr+me

 Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.) has been confirmed as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence following a five-hour screening by the Senate on Wednesday. During the session, Musa called for a comprehensive national database and tracking system for ransom payments to help apprehend cr+minals.

The former Chief of Defence Staff emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt basic security infrastructure similar to developed nations. “Something as simple as a database for all citizens can assist security forces and help track offenders,” he said, noting that the absence of centralised information allows cr+minals to move freely across states.

Musa proposed leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to make offenders financially traceable, monitor ransom payments, and link citizens’ electronic activities to a unified system. He stressed that cutting off the financial lifeline of kidn+ppers is critical to curbing cr+me.

He also advocated harsher penalties for terrorism and kidnapping, citing countries in the Middle East where offenders face strict punitive measures. Musa criticized prolonged court cases for kidnapping, saying they fail to deter crime effectively.

Meanwhile, the Senate is considering amendments to the 2022 Terr+rism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, including the death penalty for kidn+ppers and those who finance, enable, or provide information to them.