President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar. The nomination came less than 24 hours after the former minister quitted on health ground
The President’s nomination was formally transmitted to the Senate in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday. In the correspondence, President Tinubu expressed firm confidence in General Musa’s capacity to strengthen the nation’s defence architecture and advance ongoing security reforms.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished military officers. He served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025 and is a recipient of the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering, which he received in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his primary and secondary education in the state before proceeding to the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and later that same year gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree upon completing his training in 1991.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, beginning a professional career marked by extensive operational and administrative responsibilities. His early postings included General Staff Officer 1, Training and Operations, at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member of the Training Team at the Nigerian Army Armour Corps Headquarters.
General Musa’s frontline experience expanded significantly from 2019, when he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training and Operations, at the Infantry Centre and Corps Headquarters. He later commanded Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole and Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region, roles in which he contributed to multinational counterinsurgency efforts.
In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s lead counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operation in the North East. His trajectory continued upward as he became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before President Tinubu elevated him to Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
The nomination now awaits Senate confirmation, after which General Musa is expected to assume leadership of the Ministry of Defence, a role central to ongoing reforms and the consolidation of Nigeria’s security strategies.
The announcement was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
