By Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.
The nomination was conveyed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a letter from the Presidency, announcing Musa as successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is a highly decorated military officer. He served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to 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 attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, he has held a series of strategic command and staff positions, including General Staff Officer 1 at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer of the 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements at Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative at the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
His career highlights include serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations at the Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander of Sector 3 under Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region in 2019.
In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai before becoming Commander of the Infantry Corps. President Tinubu appointed him Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
In the correspondence to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s capacity to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and lead ongoing defence reforms.
The nomination awaits legislative confirmation.