Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said that anyone planning a coup in the country is wasting their time, insisting that Nigerians would reject any attempt to undermine democratic governance.
Musa made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Friday while reacting to the ongoing prosecution of military personnel and civilians accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the minister, those linked to the alleged plot lacked direction and misled junior officers into participating in unlawful activities.
“Anybody thinking about planning a coup is wasting their time,” Musa said, adding that ordinary Nigerians would have resisted any attempt to seize power through unconstitutional means.
He described some of the suspects as “a bunch of confused individuals” who allegedly exposed younger officers to serious legal and professional consequences.
The minister said the military remains committed to due process as investigations and court-martial proceedings continue. He noted that the accused persons are being given opportunities to defend themselves through established legal channels.
Musa also argued that the conditions that historically fueled military interventions are absent in contemporary Nigeria. He said the armed forces have received improved welfare packages, salary enhancements and additional military equipment to support their operations.
“The armed forces have been taken care of quite well,” he said, while highlighting government efforts to strengthen military capacity and improve troop welfare.
The comments come amid ongoing legal proceedings involving several individuals accused of plotting to destabilize the government. Federal authorities have filed charges including treason related offences, terrorism and money laundering against some of the suspects.
Musa further stated that military authorities were instrumental in uncovering the alleged plot and initiating investigations. He maintained that Nigeria’s democratic institutions remain strong and that both civilians and security agencies would resist any unconstitutional attempt to seize power.
Nigeria has not experienced a successful military coup since the end of military rule in 1999, when the country returned to democratic governance. Recent allegations of a coup plot emerged in 2025, leading to arrests, investigations and prosecutions involving military officers and civilians.
The minister’s remarks underscore the government’s position that democratic rule remains firmly established and that any effort to overthrow the constitutional order would not gain public support.
