Tinubu Appoints ex-CDS Christopher Musa As Defence Minister

President Bola Tinubu has officially nominated General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the new Minister of Defence.

This announcement was made in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, where President Tinubu indicated that General Musa will succeed Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who recently resigned from the position.

General Musa, age 58, held the position of Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025 and received the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012 in recognition of his service.

He was born in Sokoto in 1967, where he completed both his primary and secondary education. Following that, he attended the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria, graduating in 1986. He then enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year and earned a Bachelor of Science degree upon his graduation in 1991.

General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career. 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 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.

In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.

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.