By Obinna Uballa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar earlier this week, a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said on Tuesday.
The New Diplomat had reported that Gen. Musa, who met with Tinubu in Aso Rock on Monday, was poised to be Badaru’s replacement.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s appointment as Badaru’s successor, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and strengthen the nation’s security apparatus, the statement said.
General Musa, 58, is a highly decorated soldier and former Chief of Defence Staff, a position he held from 2023 until October 2025. His distinguished military career earned him the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his primary and secondary education in his home state before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria, graduating in 1986. He subsequently joined the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.
Over more than three decades of service, General Musa has held numerous key appointments, demonstrating strategic and operational excellence. He served as 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 was appointed 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. By 2021, Musa had become Theatre Commander for Operation Hadin Kai, later serving as Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before his elevation to Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.
The appointment comes at a time of heightened security concerns across Nigeria, with the government actively seeking to reinforce the nation’s defence and counterinsurgency efforts. Analysts have described General Musa’s selection as a strategic move, given his extensive operational experience in combating terrorism, insurgency, and regional security threats.
Tinubu, according to the statement, praised General Musa’s leadership qualities, highlighting his ability to manage complex military operations and improve institutional efficiency within the armed forces.
General Musa’s nomination now awaits confirmation by the Senate, after which he will formally assume office as Minister of Defence.
