President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following the sudden resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday.
The nomination was disclosed in a statement issued Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
General Musa’s selection confirmed earlier reports that he had been tipped to replace Badaru, who resigned on health grounds. The retired military chief met with President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday evening his first public visit to the Villa since his retirement on October 24, 2025. During the meeting, sources revealed that the President informed him of his imminent appointment.
In a formal communication to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu wrote:
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa as the new Minister of Defence.”
The letter further noted that Musa’s nomination follows Badaru’s resignation.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, previously served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to October 2025. The Presidency highlighted his distinguished military record, recalling his receipt of the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his early education in the state before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991.
Over the course of his military career, Musa held several prominent operational and administrative positions, including General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations) at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative at the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
His more recent appointments included Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations), Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region.
In 2021, he became Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and later served as Commander, Infantry Corps, before President Tinubu appointed him Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
The Presidency expressed confidence in his ability to “further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture” as Minister of Defence.
General Musa’s nomination came at a critical time, following President Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national security emergency and ongoing pressure to overhaul the defence sector.
