President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking the confirmation of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following Monday’s sudden resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
The President’s request was conveyed in a formal letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, marking a swift move to fill one of the nation’s most sensitive security positions.
General Musa, who turns 58 on Christmas Day, enjoyed a distinguished military career and is widely regarded as one of the armed forces’ most experienced operational commanders. He served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025, and in 2012 received the esteemed Colin Powell Award for Soldiering.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa received his early education in the state before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. After completing his studies in 1986, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991.
His decades-long service record includes major command and staff appointments: General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations) at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion; Assistant Director for Operational Requirements in the Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative and Training Team Member at the Army Armour Corps Headquarters.
He later served as Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations) at the Infantry Corps Headquarters in 2019, before taking over as Commander of Sector 3 under Operation Lafiya Dole and subsequently the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad basin. In 2021, he became Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and later headed the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. His elevation to Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu followed in 2023.
In his letter to lawmakers, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Musa’s capacity to “further strengthen Nigeria’s defence and security architecture”, urging the upper chamber to give the nomination expeditious consideration.
The Senate is expected to begin screening procedures in the coming days.
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