The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, screened retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa for confirmation as the new Minister of Defence, following his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The screening followed the reading of the President’s letter by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary, after which lawmakers resolved to consider the nomination as a matter of urgent national importance, citing Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges.
General Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), retired from active military service in October 2025 after serving in the nation’s highest military office since June 2023. During his tenure, he coordinated joint military operations against insurgency, banditry, terrorism and other security threats across different regions of the country.
Born on December 25, 1967, in Sokoto State, Musa is a graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1991. He has held several key command and strategic positions, including field and operational roles in counter-insurgency theatres, earning him wide recognition within the armed forces.
Lawmakers used the screening session to question the nominee on his vision for tackling Nigeria’s complex security landscape, civil-military relations, defence sector reforms, and accountability in military spending. Musa assured the Senate of his commitment to professionalism, coordination among security agencies, and adherence to democratic oversight in the discharge of his duties if confirmed.
His nomination followed the resignation of the former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, reportedly on health grounds. The quick nomination and screening of a replacement underscore the federal government’s resolve to avoid leadership gaps in the defence sector.
If confirmed by the Senate, Musa is expected to bring his extensive operational and strategic experience to the political leadership of Nigeria’s defence architecture at a time of heightened security concerns nationwide.