President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday.
The President’s nomination was formally conveyed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a letter seeking legislative confirmation of the retired military chief.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, previously served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. A highly decorated officer, he is a recipient of the 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 proceeding to the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.
Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, General Musa has built an extensive career in the Nigerian Army. His earlier postings include General Staff Officer 1, Training and 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.
In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training and Operations, at the Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps. He also led Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole and later commanded Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region.
By 2021, Musa had been appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, after which he became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. His leadership credentials led to his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff in 2023 by President Tinubu.
In his message to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed strong confidence in General Musa’s capacity to lead the Ministry of Defence and advance ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework.
The letter was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on December 2, 2025.
