By Harriet Tornguvan
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, signalling a strategic shift aimed at bolstering the nation’s security architecture.
The nomination was formally conveyed to the Senate through a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, according to a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. General Musa is set to replace Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is widely respected within military circles. A seasoned infantry officer, 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 early education in the state before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria, and later the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant the same year, he has risen through the ranks with an impressive record of command, operational leadership and training expertise.
His career includes key appointments such as General Staff Officer (Training/Operations) at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements at the Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative on the Training Team at the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
General Musa has also played pivotal roles in major counterterrorism efforts. He served as Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations) at the Infantry Centre and Corps in 2019, Commander of Sector 3 under 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 before becoming Commander of the Infantry Corps and subsequently Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed strong confidence in General Musa’s capacity to lead the Defence Ministry, describing him as a tested professional who will add renewed vigour to ongoing reforms and security operations.
The Senate is expected to screen and confirm the nominee in the coming days.
