President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Nigerian Senate for quickly confirming General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), as the new Minister of Defence.
In a post on his X handle (@officialABAT), Tinubu revealed that he submitted Musa’s nomination to the Senate just two days before the confirmation.
He described the former CDS as “a fine gentleman” whose extensive experience positions him to serve Nigeria effectively at a crucial time.
“I want to commend the Nigerian Senate for its expedited confirmation of General Musa yesterday. His appointment comes at a critical juncture in our lives as a Nation,” the President wrote.
Tinubu highlighted Musa’s leadership track record and deep understanding of Nigeria’s complex security landscape, noting that he is well-equipped to advance the administration’s defence and security objectives.
He concluded his statement with, “God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Born on 25 December 1967 in Sokoto, General Musa completed his early education locally before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria.
He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 after earning a B.Sc. degree.
Musa’s military education includes multiple professional and strategic courses both in Nigeria and abroad, including training at the International College of Defence Studies of the National Defence University (ICDS-NDU).
Over his career, he has held a variety of operational and leadership positions, including:
- General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations), Headquarters 81 Division
- Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion
- Assistant Director, Operational Requirements at the Department of Army Policy and Plans
- Infantry Representative, Nigerian Army Armour Corps training team
His operational experience grew significantly in 2019 when he simultaneously served as:
- Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations), Infantry Centre and Corps
- Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole
- Commander, Sector 3, Multinational Joint Task Force, Lake Chad Basin
In 2021, Musa was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigerian military’s main counter-insurgency mission in the Northeast, leading operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
He later commanded the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed CDS on 19 June 2023, serving until 24 October 2025.
During his tenure, Musa championed both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, strengthened operational effectiveness, enhanced training, improved inter-agency coordination, and promoted institutional reforms.
His service earned him several accolades, including the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering.
Since retiring as CDS, Musa has continued advocating for national unity and security.
His appointment as Defence Minister is expected to bring more than 30 years of military experience to policy-making, bridging the gap between frontline realities and strategic decision-making.
Analysts note that his leadership comes at a time of heightened security challenges and ongoing reforms within the armed forces, ensuring continuity in the Tinubu administration’s defence priorities.
