President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), as the new Minister of Defence.
His nomination was conveyed in a letter to the Senate via Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, following the resignation of the former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on health grounds.
General Musa, who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025, is a highly decorated officer with over three decades of distinguished military service. President Tinubu expressed confidence in his extensive operational experience and leadership ability to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Amid a declared national security emergency, President Tinubu expressed confidence Tuesday that Christopher Musa will provide the renewed leadership required for the Defence Ministry, according to a statement from adviser Bayo Onanuga.
“General Musa, 58, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012,” the statement reads.
“Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.
“He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
“General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career.
“His appointments include General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
“In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
“In 2021, General Musa was appointed TheatreAmid a declared national security emergency,7 President Tinubu expressed confidence Tuesday that Christopher Musa will provide the renewed leadership required for the Defence Ministry, according to a statement from adviser Bayo Onanuga. Commander, Operation Hadin Kai.
“He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.”
Musa’s nomination comes less than 24 hours after he met privately with Tinubu at the State House on Monday evening.
