President Bola Tinubu has nominated retired General Christopher Musa as Nigeria’s next Minister of Defence. The President formally communicated the appointment to the Senate on Tuesday, requesting lawmakers to screen and confirm the former Chief of Defence Staff for the role. General Musa will assume office only after securing Senate approval.

The nomination comes just days after Mohammed Badaru Abubakar resigned as defence minister, creating a vacancy at the top of Nigeria’s security leadership. President Tinubu told the Senate he trusts General Musa to handle the demanding role and strengthen the country’s security systems.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa completed his primary and secondary education in the state before proceeding to the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. He finished his programme in 1986 and immediately gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.

His military career has taken him to some of Nigeria’s most challenging security situations. He commanded operations against insurgents in the Northeast, including leading Operation Hadin Kai and serving with the Multinational Joint Task Force fighting Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region.

However, the Senate will now review Musa’s nomination. If approved, he will take over from Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down from the defence minister role just days ago.