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By Lizzy Chirkpi
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 resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday due to health reasons. The President’s nomination was formally conveyed to the Senate on Tuesday in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In the letter, President Tinubu described Musa as a seasoned officer whose decades of military service and operational experience make him “eminently qualified” to take charge of the nation’s defence portfolio, especially at a time when Nigeria is battling heightened security threats. “General Musa has demonstrated capacity, patriotism, and professional excellence throughout his career,” the President wrote, urging the Senate to give the nomination “expeditious consideration.”
The nomination comes at a critical moment for Nigeria. The country is grappling with growing violence, ranging from insurgency in the Northeast, to banditry and mass abductions across the Northwest and North-Central, and communal conflicts in other regions. Just hours before Badaru’s resignation, it was reported that rising nationwide insecurity had intensified pressure on the government to overhaul its defence leadership.
Musa’s return to frontline leadership signals a more assertive approach by the Tinubu administration. The retired four-star general previously served as the 18th Chief of Defence Staff until his removal in October during a broad shake-up of the military hierarchy. Before that, he earned national recognition as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, where he led counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Born on 25 December 1967 in Sokoto, Musa was commissioned as an officer of the Nigerian Army in 1991 after completing his training at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He has held several senior command and staff positions, including Commander of Sector 3 in the Lake Chad region, Commander of the Infantry Corps, and Director of Personnel at Army Headquarters. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Colin Powell Award for professional excellence.
During his tenure as CDS, Musa was vocal about the need for stronger inter-agency cooperation and more investment in modern defence equipment. In 2024, he famously said that “Nigeria cannot afford to be timid in the face of terrorism,” stressing that security forces must remain “proactive and ruthless against criminal networks.” That philosophy is expected to shape his new role should the Senate confirm him.
Senate sources indicated that screening may be fast-tracked, given the vacuum left at the Defence Ministry. Analysts believe Musa’s appointment could usher in a more military-driven approach to security management, while also demanding improved oversight, accountability, and civilian coordination within the Ministry.
For many Nigerians, the nomination represents both hope and scrutiny. Musa’s history in counter-insurgency has earned him respect within security circles, but the scale of the country’s security challenges means expectations will be high from day one.
If confirmed, General Musa will assume office immediately, becoming President Tinubu’s second Defence Minister in just 18 months a reflection of the urgency and volatility surrounding Nigeria’s security landscape