President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as new Minister of Defence, after the resignation of Badaru Abubakar.
In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu transmitted Musa’s name for confirmation, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy revealed in a statement on Tuesday.
He described him as a seasoned military officer capable of strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
The nomination follows Badaru’s exit from office on health grounds, NRTC earlier reported.
Badaru, 63, tendered his resignation in a letter dated December 1, which Tinubu accepted with appreciation for the former minister’s service.
His departure comes amid the President’s ongoing national security emergency declaration, with details expected to be announced soon.
Musa, 58, is a highly decorated officer who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to October 2025. He received the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, he completed his early education in the state before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria.
He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
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Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in 1991, Musa has held several strategic positions within the Nigerian Army.
His roles have included General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations) at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; and Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans.
He also served as Infantry Representative on the Training Team at the Army Armour Corps Headquarters.
Between 2019 and 2021, he played key operational roles, including Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations) at the Infantry Centre and Corps, Commander of Sector 3 under Operation Lafiya Dole, and later Commander of the Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region.
In 2021, he became Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and later Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
Tinubu’s letter to the Senate expressed confidence in Musa’s capacity to lead the Defence Ministry at a critical moment for national security.
