President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded the name of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to the Senate for confirmation as the new Minister of Defence.
The nomination was contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, formally notifying the upper chamber of the President’s choice to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday.
General Musa, 58, who served as the nation’s top military officer from 2023 until October 2025, is widely regarded for his operational experience and reform-driven leadership.
His career has spanned critical commands and strategic postings across the Nigerian Army, including counterinsurgency operations in the Northeast and multinational missions in the Lake Chad Basin.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his early education in the state before proceeding to the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree five years later.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991.
Over the decades, Musa has held several key roles, from staff positions at Army Headquarters to command appointments in training, operations, and combat theatres.
His leadership in Operation Lafiya Dole, the Multinational Joint Task Force, and later as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai earned him wide commendation, including the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023, overseeing the Armed Forces during a period marked by intensified security reforms and joint service coordination.
In the letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s capacity to steer the Defence Ministry and consolidate ongoing efforts to fortify the nation’s security framework.