President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), as the new Minister of Defence.
The nomination was conveyed to the Senate in an official letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday. General Musa is expected to replace Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned from the cabinet on Monday.
General Musa, who will be 58 on December 25, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most experienced military officers. He served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to October 2025 and previously received the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, the retired general completed his primary and secondary education in the state before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree on graduation in 1991, after which he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
His military career spans several strategic postings. He served as General Staff Officer 1 for Training and Operations at Headquarters 81 Division, Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion, and Assistant Director of Operational Requirements at Army Policy and Plans. He was also an Infantry Representative with the Training Team at the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
General Musa later became Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations) at the Infantry Centre and Corps. He commanded Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole and later led Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin.
In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s main counterterrorism operation in the North-East. He later served as Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.
In his message to the Senate, President Tinubu said he is confident that General Musa will bring strong leadership to the Ministry of Defence and help reinforce ongoing efforts to strengthen national security.
The Senate is expected to screen the nominee in the coming days.
