President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday officially swore in retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence during a brief ceremony held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
General Musa’s appointment follows the resignation of former Defence Minister Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday, December 1, 2025. His nomination was promptly transmitted to the Senate a day later, where it received accelerated screening and confirmation.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army in 1991 and went on to build a distinguished military career. He served as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from 2023 until his retirement in October 2025, during which he championed stronger inter-service cooperation and joint security operations.
With his swearing-in completed, the new Defence Minister is expected to immediately assume office as the Tinubu administration intensifies efforts to consolidate recent security gains and推进 reforms aimed at strengthening national peace and stability.
The ceremony was witnessed by top government officials and dignitaries, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Others in attendance were Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa, spouse of the new minister; Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto; and retired Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs.
