….as President Tinubu nominates
By Sammoozi
President 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.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, President Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s nomination as successor to the former Jigawa State Governor who recently stepped down from the position.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is a highly decorated soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. His military excellence was internationally recognized when he won the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa received his primary and secondary education in the city before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria, where he graduated in 1986. He enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
Commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, General Musa has since built a distinguished career spanning over three decades. His numerous appointments include General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations at Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps. He also commanded Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole and Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region, where he gained extensive experience combating insurgency and transnational terrorism.
In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the military operation focused on combating Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents in the North-East. His leadership during this critical period was marked by significant operational successes and improved coordination among security forces.
He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before President Tinubu appointed him Chief of Defence Staff in 2023, making him the country’s top military officer responsible for coordinating the operations of all armed forces.
In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. The nomination comes at a critical time as Nigeria continues to grapple with multiple security challenges including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, separatist agitations in the South-East, and rising kidnapping incidents across various regions.
General Musa’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, which will screen the nominee before final approval. If confirmed, he will become one of the few former service chiefs to transition directly into civilian ministerial positions while bringing extensive operational experience to the role.
The Ministry of Defence oversees the Nigerian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and plays a crucial role in formulating and implementing national defence policy.
The statement was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy recently.
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