Tinubu nominates General Christopher Musa as new Minister of Defence

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday.

In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu forwarded General Musa’s nomination, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

General Musa, 58, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He previously won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012. Born in Sokoto in 1967, he completed his primary and secondary education locally before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, General Musa has held numerous key appointments, including Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion, Assistant Director of Operational Requirements at the Department of Army Policy and Plans, and Infantry Representative at HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

He also served in operational commands, including Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations at the Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps in 2019, Commander of Sector 3 for Operation Lafiya Dole, and Commander of Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region. In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and later Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff.

General Musa’s nomination now awaits confirmation by the Senate.