President Bola Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff, to serve as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence. The nomination follows the resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday. In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested the Senate’s confirmation of General Musa as the new minister.
General Musa’s extensive experience and distinguished record of service make him a strong candidate for the position. He previously led the Nigerian Armed Forces as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to October 2025. The 58-year-old retired military chief is a decorated officer who received the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa attended primary and secondary school in the state before pursuing further studies at the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant the same year. Throughout his career, General Musa has held various command and operational roles, including General Staff Officer 1 in Training and Operations and Commander of the 73 Battalion.
General Musa has also held strategic frontline positions, such as Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Operations at the Infantry Centre and Corps Headquarters, and Commander of Sector 3 in Operation Lafiya Dole. In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s major counterterrorism operation in the North-East. His experience and expertise are expected to be valuable assets in his new role as Minister of Defence.
President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s ability to “further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture” and bring his operational expertise to the Ministry of Defence. The nomination is expected to be considered by the Senate in the coming days. The appointment of a new Minister of Defence is significant, given the complex security challenges facing Nigeria. The confirmation process will be closely watched as the country seeks to address its security concerns and strengthen its defence capabilities.