President Bola Tinubu has formally nominated former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s Defence Minister.
The nomination of Musa as Nigeria’s Defence Minister comes on the heels of the resignation of the former Defence Minister, Hon. Badaru Abubakar, over health concerns.
The nomination was contained in a letter sent to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
In his letter to the Senate, the President expressed confidence in Musa’s capacity to lead the Defence Ministry and strengthen Nigeria’s security framework.
The nomination of Musa as Nigeria’s Defence Minister was also confirmed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement reads in part: “General Musa, 58, on December 25, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 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.
“General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career. His appointments include General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Corps.
“In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
“In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.”
The presidency also added that the choice of Musa is not a political appointment but a strategic injection of decades of military experience into the ministry. As a former CDS, Gen. Christopher Musa is expected to bring unparalleled understanding of Nigeria’s security architecture, inter-service coordination, and the operational nuances of the various theaters of conflict, from the North-East counter-insurgency efforts to managing internal security across the federation.
Musa’s nomination as Nigeria’s Defence Minister comes amid a significant surge in attacks in November 2025.
On Friday, November 21, 2025, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri area. They initially abducted more than 300 students and 12 staff members. However, around 50 of the pupils later managed to escape.
Also, in Kebbi State, gunmen attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, abducting 25 schoolgirls and reportedly killing the school’s vice principal. All the schoolgirls have been released.
There was also an attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA which reportedly resulted in the killing of at least two worshippers and the abduction of about 35 congregants and the pastor. The abducted Christians were released days after the attack.
