Breaking: After Badaru’s Resignation, Tinubu Taps Ex-CDS Musa As Defence Minister Nominee

President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.

The nomination was formally conveyed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a letter from the President, following the resignation of former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday.

Western Post had exclusively reported on Monday that President Tinubu may nominate Gen. Musa (Rtd) as Defence Minister after the resignation of Badaru.

Badaru who tendered his resignation to President Tinubu on Monday, cites health reasons for his decision.

Gen. Musa, 58, who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most experienced senior military officers. He is a recipient of the 2012 Colin Powell Award for Soldiering.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his primary and secondary education in the state before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986, graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant the same year.

Throughout his career, he held a series of key command and staff roles, including General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations) at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; and Assistant Director, Operational Requirements at Army Headquarters. He also served as Infantry Representative on the Training Team of the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

His operational experience includes serving as Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations) at the Infantry Corps Headquarters, Commander of Sector 3 in Operation Lafiya Dole, and later Commander of Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin.

In 2021, Musa was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, where he led counterterrorism operations in the North-East. He went on to serve as Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.

In his communication to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Musa’s capacity to lead the Ministry of Defence and strengthen Nigeria’s national security framework.