Tinubu nominates Musa as new defence minister
President Bola Tinubu has named former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.
The nomination was formally sent to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, according to a letter disclosed on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu said he was confident Musa would strengthen the country’s security framework and bring renewed vigour to the ministry.
The appointment comes barely days after Mohammed Badaru Abubakar abruptly resigned as defence minister, creating a vacuum at a time when the nation is grappling with persistent security challenges.
General Musa, who turns 58 on Christmas Day, previously served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025, when President Tinubu removed him from the role. His return to government has sparked renewed interest, particularly as he was spotted at the Presidential Villa on December 1 for a private meeting with the President, hours before Badaru’s exit.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa attended school in the state before moving to the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and joined the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.
Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, he has held several key military appointments, including General Staff Officer 1, Training and Operations at 81 Division; Commanding Officer of the 73 Battalion; and Assistant Director, Operational Requirements at Army Headquarters. He also served on the Training Team of the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
His combat and operational experience is extensive. In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Operations at the Infantry Centre and Corps, later becoming Commander of Sector 3 in Operation Lafiya Dole and the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region.
In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, before rising to lead the Nigerian Infantry Corps. His tenure as Chief of Defence Staff began in 2023 and placed him at the centre of Nigeria’s top security decisions.
General Musa’s return as defence minister now positions him once again at the heart of the nation’s military leadership. If confirmed by the Senate, he will take charge of a ministry facing mounting pressure to restore stability across the country.