President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence. The nomination follows the sudden resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday, a development that comes at a time when the nation is grappling with heightened security concerns across several regions.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu formally requested legislative approval for General Musa’s appointment. The President praised Musa’s long-standing military experience and described him as a disciplined officer capable of strengthening national security coordination. General Musa, who retired from service earlier in the year, previously led Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations and served as Theatre Commander in the North-East and Lake Chad Basin, where he was noted for overseeing joint operations involving regional forces.
Badaru’s departure from the cabinet, reportedly linked to personal health concerns, has created a critical vacancy within the defence sector, especially as the Federal Government continues to confront rising incidents of banditry, kidnapping, and armed attacks. His resignation also coincided with the government’s recently declared nationwide security emergency aimed at recalibrating Nigeria’s defence strategy.
With Musa’s nomination now before the Senate, attention has shifted to the confirmation process, which is expected to determine how quickly the Ministry of Defence can regain stability and direction under new leadership.
