Tinubu Nominates Ex-Defence Chief Christopher Musa as New Defence Minister

Nigeria’s security leadership is set for a significant shift as President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday nominated former Chief of Defence Staff Gen Christopher Musa as the country’s new Minister of Defence. The move follows the resignation of Badaru Abubakar on Monday after he stepped down on health grounds. The nomination marks a swift transition in the Ministry of Defence as the administration continues to confront heightened national security challenges.

According to a letter sent to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu formally presented Musa as Abubakar’s successor. The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development and noted that the nomination came less than a day after Musa was sighted at a meeting with the President at the Aso Rock Villa.

Musa, 58, served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until his retirement in October 2025 and holds the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering which he received in 2012. Born in Sokoto in 1967, he attended the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria before enrolling at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, his career has included key roles such as Commander of Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.

Onanuga noted that the President expressed strong confidence in Musa’s capacity to lead the Defence Ministry and strengthen Nigeria’s evolving security architecture.

Badaru Abubakar, 63, a former two-term governor of Jigawa State, resigned earlier on Monday, with President Tinubu thanking him for his service and confirming that the Senate would be notified about his replacement within the week.

The ministerial shake-up comes at a time of rising security anxiety following Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency. Ongoing measures include the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, deployment of forest guards and reinforced protection of schools, churches and mosques in high-risk areas.

Reacting to the nomination, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang praised General Musa as a courageous and capable officer whose contributions have strengthened peace and unity across the country. In a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Gyang Bere, Mutfwang described the appointment as a well-deserved acknowledgment of Musa’s record of discipline, excellence and commitment to national security.

He added that he is confident Musa will meet the expectations of both the President and the Nigerian people, urging collaborative efforts to tackle terrorism and violent crime.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday evening. Attendees included Chief of Defence Staff Gen Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen W Shaibu, Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral I Abbas, Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt Gen Akomaye Undiandeye, DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

The meeting took place weeks after the United States redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution linked to extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP. In response, a delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu recently visited Washington to explore joint strategies for addressing insecurity and religious freedom issues.

Also spotted at the Villa was Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti whose presence was not immediately linked to the security meeting. Otti recently visited the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in Sokoto prisons and has expressed commitment to efforts aimed at securing his release.