President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.
In a letter addressed to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, President Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday.
General Musa served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. 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. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since held numerous command and staff positions. His appointments include 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 the 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 Senate is expected to schedule a confirmation hearing for General Musa, where he will appear before the relevant committees. If confirmed, he will assume responsibility for overseeing Nigeria’s defence policy, military administration, and coordination of the armed forces’ operations.
The nomination comes as Nigeria continues face excruciating security challenges including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflicts across various regions of the country.
