Excitements in the Armed Forces as President Tinubu Appoints Gen. C.G. Musa as Defence Minister

Excitements in the Armed Forces as President Tinubu Appoints Gen. C.G. Musa as Defence Minister

A wave of excitement has spread across the Nigerian Armed Forces following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of General Christopher Gwabin Musa as the new Minister of Defence. The President announced the appointment in a formal letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, naming General Musa as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned earlier in the week.

General Musa—who turns 59 on December 25—is widely regarded within military circles as a seasoned and respected officer. He previously served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025 and is a recipient of the 2012 Colin Powell Award for Soldiering.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his primary and secondary education in the state before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. In 1986, he entered the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant that same year, Musa went on to build an extensive and accomplished career. His notable postings include General Staff Officer 1 (Training/Operations) at Headquarters 81 Division, Commanding Officer of the 73 Battalion, and Assistant Director for Operational Requirements at the Department of Army Policy and Plans. He also served as the Infantry Representative on the Nigerian Army Armour Corps training team.

His operational leadership strengthened further in 2019 when he became Deputy Chief of Staff (Training/Operations) at the Infantry Centre and Corps. He later commanded Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole and Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region.

By 2021, Musa had risen to the role of Theatre Commander for Operation Hadin Kai, before taking command of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps and eventually being appointed Chief of Defence Staff in 2023 by President Tinubu.

While the official announcement focused on his qualifications and experience, military commentators note that many officers and soldiers view Musa’s appointment as a positive development. Within operational communities—particularly those familiar with his frontline leadership—there has reportedly been a strong sense of approval, with frontline troops expressing optimism about what his leadership may mean for ongoing security operations.

In his message to the Senate, President Tinubu said he has full confidence in General Musa’s ability to strengthen the nation’s defence architecture and move Nigeria’s security efforts forward.