President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in retired Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence, charging him to accelerate ongoing reforms aimed at securing lasting peace across the country.
Musa’s appointment followed the resignation of former Defence Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on December 1, 2025. His nomination was immediately forwarded to the Senate, which screened and confirmed him without delay.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, the retired general was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991. He went on to serve in various capacities before President Tinubu appointed him Chief of Defence Staff in 2023. He retired from service in October 2025 after a distinguished career in which he championed stronger inter-agency military collaboration.
With his swearing-in, the Tinubu administration expects Musa to assume office immediately and strengthen recent security gains while fast-tracking defence sector reforms to enhance peace and stability nationwide.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Others present were Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa, wife of the newly sworn-in minister; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and retired Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs.
