BREAKING: President Tinubu Nominates Former CDS Christopher Musa as Nigeria’s New Minister of Defence

• President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated retired Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, expressing strong confidence in his ability to strengthen the country’s security framework.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd) as the new Minister of Defence, following the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu said he is confident that General Musa’s vast experience and leadership record will significantly bolster Nigeria’s defence and security architecture.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa began his education locally before moving on to the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant the same year, General Musa has held several critical military roles, including General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

His operational experience is extensive. He served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations at the Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander of Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and later Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.

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In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, before going on to lead the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. In 2023, President Tinubu appointed him Chief of Defence Staff, a role he held until his latest nomination.

General Musa, a highly decorated officer, received the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012. His appointment now awaits confirmation by the Senate.