Tinubu Appoints Former CDS As Defence Minister 

By Joseph Sunday 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed his former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence to replace Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday. 

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President Tinubu in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, named General Christopher Musa as new Defence Minister, just as the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga made the decision public. 

Onanuga in a statement also made public said General Musa will turn 58 on December 25, who once served the Country as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 till October, 2025.

Adding, Onanuga said General Musa was born in Sokoto in 1967; and had his primary and secondary education 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.

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“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 Armour Corps”.

Continuing, Onanuga stated further, that in 2019, “General Musa 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.

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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.

In the 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 architecture.

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