The Nigerian Presidency on December 2, 2025, placed its top communications strategist, Bayo Onanuga, at the centre of a major national security development as he formally announced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Nigeria’s next Minister of Defence.
Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, broke the news in a detailed statement that immediately set Abuja political circles buzzing. His announcement confirmed that General Musa, former Chief of Defence Staff, had been chosen to succeed Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned earlier in the day.
In the statement accompanying the President’s nomination letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the General was described as “a tested, steady hand whose leadership will strengthen Nigeria’s defence posture at a critical moment.”
The nomination marks a significant return to frontline service for the 58-year-old retired general, widely respected for his operational depth, calm command style, and long career across some of the Nigerian military’s toughest theatres.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa’s upbringing and early education in the city laid the foundation for a military journey that began at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, he went on to earn a reputation for consistency and strategic discipline. His early career included roles as: General Staff Officer, Training/Operations, HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative, Training Team, Nigerian Army Armour Corps
General Musa’s name became even more prominent between 2019 and 2021, when he commanded Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole and the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region, before taking over as Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. His leadership in these roles was widely regarded as critical in stabilising several conflict zones.
In 2023, President Tinubu appointed him Chief of Defence Staff, a position Musa held until October 2025. His tenure was marked by intensified joint operations and stronger inter-service coordination—efforts that earned him further respect across the armed forces. He also holds the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering, awarded in 2012.
Onanuga, echoing the President’s confidence, emphasised that Musa brings “the right blend of operational experience and institutional memory” to the Defence Ministry at a time when Nigeria faces evolving threats from insurgency, banditry, and cross-border criminal groups.
If confirmed, General Musa will take the reins of a ministry central to Nigeria’s stability.
Story: Kakale Adams
