President Bola Tinubu has nominated retired Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the new Minister of Defence. The nomination, conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, comes following the resignation of Mohammed Badaru on Monday due to health reasons.
In his letter, President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s ability to lead the ministry and bolster Nigeria’s security architecture. The nomination was confirmed in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, General Musa, 58, is a decorated soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025 and was awarded the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012. Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his primary and secondary education locally before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria, graduating in 1986. He subsequently enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.
Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in 1991, General Musa has held several key positions, including General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations) at HQ 81 Division, Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion, Assistant Director of Operational Requirements in the Department of Army Policy and Plans, and Infantry Representative on the Training Team at HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
With his extensive military experience, General Musa is expected to provide strategic leadership in addressing national security challenges and implementing defence reforms.
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“In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
“In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.”
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Badaru, who was appointed Minister of Defence on August 21, 2023, cited ill health in his resignation letter.
A statement by Onanuga added that Tinubu had accepted the resignation and thanked him for his service to the nation.
The statement further noted, “President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week.
“His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.”
Badaru recently came under criticism following a BBC Hausa interview in which he said some terrorists could not be targeted because their forest hideouts were too dense for bombs to reach.
