By John Umeh
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following the sudden resignation of Mohammed Badaru.
The nomination was formally communicated to the Senate on Tuesday in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In the letter, President Tinubu expressed full confidence in Musa’s competence, leadership depth, and security expertise—qualities he said are urgently needed as the country confronts escalating threats nationwide.
A Distinguished Military Career
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is widely respected for his decades of service in the Nigerian Army and for playing key strategic roles in the battle against insurgency.
A statement issued by Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, highlighted Musa’s journey from his early years in Sokoto to his rise as one of the country’s most experienced military commanders.
Born in 1967, Musa completed both his primary and secondary education in Sokoto before proceeding to the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986, graduating in 1991 with a B.Sc. and earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant the same year.
Over the years, Musa held several influential command and staff positions, including:
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General Staff Officer 1, Training and Operations, HQ 81 Division
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Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion
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Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Army Policy and Plans
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Infantry Representative, Training Team, Nigerian Army Armour Corps
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Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Infantry Centre and Corps
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Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole
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Commander, Sector 3, Multinational Joint Task Force, Lake Chad region
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Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (2021)
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Commander, Nigerian Army Infantry Corps
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Chief of Defence Staff (2023–2025)
He was also the recipient of the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Badaru Steps Down Amid Health Concerns
Musa’s nomination follows the resignation of Mohammed Badaru, who served as Minister of Defence from August 21, 2023, until Monday.
Badaru, in his resignation letter, cited deteriorating health as the reason for stepping aside. The President accepted the resignation and commended Badaru for his service “during a challenging period in the nation’s security evolution.”
His exit comes at a time when Nigeria is under a declared national security emergency, with President Tinubu expected to unveil a comprehensive security overhaul in the coming days.
A Critical Appointment at a Critical Time
General Musa returns to the centre of Nigeria’s security management at a period marked by persistent terrorism, banditry, and attacks across several regions.
His nomination is expected to be considered by the Senate later this week.
If confirmed, he will be tasked with coordinating the defence establishment and executing the administration’s new security directives—an assignment many analysts say aligns with his record as one of the country’s most effective operational commanders in recent years.
