By Mary Onyia
President Bola Tinubu has nominated the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s next Minister of Defence. Musa will expectedly be screened on Wednesday by the senate.
Musa replaces Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned earlier owing to health reasons.
In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s nomination as the successor to Abubakar.
According to Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, (Information and Strategy), in a statement he issued on Tuesday, General Musa, 58, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 30, 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.
He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
Musa’s appointment is seen as part of moves by the Tinubu administration to stem the tide of insecurity in the country. He will be screened by the Senate on Wednesday (later today).