Tinubu Appoints Ex-CDS Musa as New Defence Minister

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday sent a letter to the Senate announcing the nomination of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the new Minister of Defence. The development comes one day after Mohammed Badaru stepped down from the role due to health concerns.

The letter, which was addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, informed lawmakers that Musa was the President’s choice to take over the ministry. Tinubu stated that he trusted Musa to manage the ministry and improve national security. The announcement was later confirmed in a statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Musa, who is 58, served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He had earlier earned the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012 and has held various key posts within the Nigerian Army over the years.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa attended both primary and secondary school in the state before moving to the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He completed the programme in 1986 and joined the Nigerian Defence Academy that same year. He graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

Since joining the Army, Musa has held several top positions. He worked as General Staff Officer 1 in Training and Operations at Headquarters 81 Division, served as Commanding Officer of the 73 Battalion, and was Assistant Director in the Operational Requirements department at Army Policy and Plans. He was also part of the training team at the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

His leadership roles continued to grow, and in 2019 he became Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Operations at the Infantry Centre and Corps Headquarters. He went on to command Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole as well as Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad area.

In 2021, Musa was named Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai before moving on to lead the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. President Tinubu later appointed him Chief of Defence Staff in 2023, a role he held until his retirement in October 2025.

With his nomination now before the Senate, Musa is set to return to government service in a new capacity as the country’s Defence Minister, following Badaru’s exit from the cabinet.