Who’s Who in Nigeria’s Defence Ministry: Military Officers Who Shaped National Security Since 1999

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The nomination follows the resignation of the former Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, a day earlier.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, confirmed Musa’s nomination in a statement released on Tuesday. According to the statement, the President conveyed General Musa’s nomination to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The statement highlighted General Musa’s distinguished military career:

• Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa attended primary and secondary school locally before moving to 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 in 1991.

• Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, Musa held several key positions, including General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations) at HQ 81 Division, Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion, and Assistant Director of Operational Requirements in the Department of Army Policy and Plans.

• He also served as Infantry Representative/Member of the Training Team at HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

• In 2019, he was Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations) at Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps, Commander of Sector 3 in Operation Lafiya Dole, and Commander of Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region.

• By 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before serving as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to October 2025.

• General Musa, 58, was awarded the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and further strengthen Nigeria’s security framework.

Military Officers Who Have Served as Nigeria’s Defence Minister Since 1999

• Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma – Retired Lieutenant-General, 1999–2003

• Aliyu Mohammed Gusau – Retired Lieutenant-General, March 2014–May 2015

• Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali – Retired Brigadier-General, November 2015–May 2019

• Bashir Salihi Magashi – Retired Major-General, August 2019–May 2023

• Christopher Gwabin Musa – Newly retired General, nominated December 2, 2025