ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has nominated retired General Christopher Musa, former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.
The nomination was conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, one day after the resignation of Mohammed Badaru.
Badaru stepped down abruptly on Monday, December 1, 2025, citing health reasons, prompting the president to move swiftly to fill the critical security portfolio as Nigeria confronts deepening insecurity.
Musa, who served as CDS from 2023 until October 2025, is widely regarded within military circles for his operational experience and strategic command roles.
He is also the recipient of the 2012 Colin Powell Award for Soldiering, a recognition of distinguished service.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his primary and secondary education in the state before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.
He graduated in 1986 and immediately enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.
His decades-long military career saw him rise through command, training, and operational ranks, culminating in his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff.
Tinubu’s nomination signals continuity in military leadership as his administration prepares a broader reset of Nigeria’s security framework.
The president declared a national security emergency earlier this week and is expected to outline new measures in the coming days.
Musa’s appointment requires Senate confirmation.
If approved, he will assume leadership of the Ministry of Defence at a time of heightened security threats, including rising kidnappings, banditry, and insurgent activity across several regions.
The Senate is expected to consider the nomination expeditiously given the urgency of the security situation.
