President Tinubu Nominates General Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa as the new
Minister of Defence, forwarding his name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
The nomination, announced on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, comes immediately after the resignation of
the former occupant of the office, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on Monday, December 1, 2025.

The presidential communication, delivered via a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio,
described General Musa as a highly decorated and experienced military officer whose leadership is
expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s security framework.
General Musa’s nomination signals a strategic move to place a seasoned commander at the helm of the
Ministry of Defence, which is tasked with overseeing the nation’s security architecture amidst persistent
internal challenges.

Before this nomination, General Musa, 58, served as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from his
appointment on June 23, 2023, until his retirement from the military on October 30, 2025.
His distinguished career spans over three decades and includes several critical operational roles:
He was the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (the military operation fighting the insurgency
in the Northeast).

He served as the Commander of Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole and the Multinational Joint Task Force
(MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin.
General Musa is also a recognized recipient of the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering.

The Presidency, in a statement confirming the nomination, expressed strong confidence in General
Musa’s capacity to consolidate security gains and implement the administration’s strategy for tackling
insecurity across the country. The Senate is expected to schedule his screening in the coming days.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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