Breaking News: Tinubu Nominates Former Defence Chief, Gen. Christopher Musa, as New Minister of Defence
By Usman A Harande
STATE HOUSE — Abuja
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 earlier this week.
The President communicated the nomination to Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a formal letter, urging the Senate to give the appointment swift consideration.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is a highly decorated senior military officer with an illustrious career spanning over three decades. He previously served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to October 2025 and is a recipient of the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering (2012).
Born in Sokoto in 1967, he completed his primary and secondary education in the state before proceeding to the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. In 1986, he gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy, graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree and commissioning into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant.
Throughout his service, General Musa held several strategic positions, including:
- General Staff Officer I, Training and Operations, HQ 81 Division
- Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion
- Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Army Policy and Plans
- Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Infantry Corps
- Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole
- Commander, Sector 3, Multinational Joint Task Force (Lake Chad Region)
In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and later rose to become Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being named Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
President Tinubu, in his letter, expressed full confidence in General Musa’s capacity to strengthen Nigeria’s defence infrastructure and advance ongoing security reforms.
December 2, 2025
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