Breaking: Tinubu Nominates Retired Gen Christopher Musa as Defence Minister
In a letter to the Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa, former Chief of Defence Staff, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is poised to succeed Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned from the cabinet on Monday citing health reasons.
The President’s communication was disclosed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The development confirmed the report of the sentinelnewsng.com on Monday morning that Gen Musa who visited President Tinubu in office yesterday has been billed for the office.
Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most seasoned infantry commanders, Musa served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until his retirement in October 2025.
His distinguished career includes receiving the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967 and educated there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria, Musa entered the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986. He graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
Over more than three decades of service, he held numerous key operational and command posts. These included General Staff Officer 1 at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer of the 73 Battalion; Assistant Director for Operational Requirements; and Infantry Representative on the Training Team at the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
His later appointments featured roles as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Infantry Centre and Corps in 2019; Commander of Sector 3 in Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander of Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin. In 2021, he became Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Nigeria’s major counterterrorism campaign in the Northeast, before leading the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps and ultimately being appointed CDS in 2023.
President Tinubu, in his communication to the Senate, highlighted General Musa’s extensive operational background and proven leadership as vital qualifications to lead the Defence Ministry as Nigeria works to strengthen its security infrastructure.
The Senate is expected to begin screening the nominee in the coming days.
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