By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu on Tuesday nominated the country’s immediate-past Chief of Defence Staff as the new Minister of Defence.
General Christopher Musa (Rtd) will replace Mohammad Abubakar who announced his resignation on Monday night as the West African nation grapples with renewed waves of banditry, mass abductions, and violent attacks especially in the northern region.
“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”, a release signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said.
The President has written to the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of Musa as the new Defence Minister.
Badaru’s exit from Tinubu’s cabinet follows intensified security challenges, including the kidnapping of 25 students in Kebbi State and the abduction of about 300 students in Niger State, incidents that have heightened public pressure on the federal government.
Bandit attacks have also been recorded in parts of Sokoto, Kogi and Kwara states, further fueling concerns about the government’s ability to curb the mounting violence.
In the last couple of days, armed men reportedly kidnapped at least 10 people, including a bride and her companions, in Sokoto State. A pastor and his wife were abducted during an attack in Kogi State. Three officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service were killed at a checkpoint in Katsina State, all in the northern region where Badaru served as a governor in Kebbi.
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.
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 Armour Corps.
