Tinubu names ex-CDS Musa as defence minister, meets service chiefs

File Photo: Former Chief of Defence Staff and new Defense Minister, General Christopher Musa

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President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, nominated the immediate-past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, following the resignation of Badaru Abubakar on health grounds on Monday.

“In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s nomination as the successor to Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday,” said Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

The nomination comes barely 24 hours after Musa was spotted at a meeting with the President at the Aso Rock Villa on Monday evening. Musa, 58, served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until his retirement in October 2025 and is a recipient of the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering (2012).

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa attended the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria before enrolling at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, he has held numerous key positions, including Commander, Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, and Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.

“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,” Onanuga added.

Badaru Abubakar, 63, a former two-term governor of Jigawa State, resigned on health grounds.

“President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation. The President will likely inform the Senate of his successor later this week,” Onanuga said.

The ministerial change comes amid heightened security concerns, following Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency. Measures include recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, deployment of forest guards, and reinforced protection of schools, churches, and mosques in vulnerable areas.

The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, commended President Tinubu’s nomination of General Musa, describing him as a gallant, courageous, and exceptionally competent officer who has made significant contributions to fostering peace, unity, and national cohesion.

In a congratulatory message on Tuesday, signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Gyang Bere, Governor Mutfwang said, “General Musa’s appointment is a fitting recognition for a man whose life embodies intellectual depth, professional excellence, discipline, and unwavering dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture,” the governor added.

He expressed strong confidence that Musa will not disappoint President Tinubu or Nigerians and called for collective efforts at all levels to secure the nation and combat terrorism and violent crimes.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, President Tinubu held closed-door talks with the Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting, which began around 4:30 pm, included the 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 security talks come weeks after the U.S. government redesignated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged widespread Christian persecution, including attacks by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP.

A high-level delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited Washington D.C. to discuss collaborative mechanisms to address insecurity and religious freedom concerns.

Also sighted at the Villa was Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, though it was unclear whether he attended the security meeting.

Otti recently visited the jailed leader of the  Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto prisons and has expressed intentions to secure his release.

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