Read Full List Of Military Officers Who Have Served As Minister Of Defence Since 1999
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, nominated a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the new Minister of Defence.
The Genius Media Nigeria understands that Musa’s nomination comes a day after the ex-Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, tendered his resignation.
The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed Musa’s nomination in a statement released on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s nomination in a letter to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The statement reads, “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.
“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.
“In 2019, he 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.
“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.”
Since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, some retired military officers have led the defence ministry of Nigeria.
See the list below:
– Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, Retired Army Lieutenant-General. He served from 1999 to 2003.
– Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, Retired Army Lieutenant-General. He served from March 2014 to May 2015.
– Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali, Retired Army Brigadier-General. He served from November 2015 to May 2019.
– Bashir Salihi Magashi, Retired Army Major-General. He served from August 2019 to May 2023.
– Christopher Gwabin Musa, Newly retired Army General. Nominated on December 2, 2025.
