President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd) as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence during a brief ceremony held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

General Musa’s appointment follows the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday, December 1, 2025. His nomination was immediately forwarded to the Senate, which conducted an accelerated screening and confirmed him the following day.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in 1991 and went on to build a distinguished military career. President Tinubu appointed him Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2023, a position he held until his retirement in October 2025. During his tenure as CDS, he was widely credited with strengthening inter-service cooperation and advancing joint security operations.

Speaking with journalists shortly after taking the oath of office, General Musa said: “My immediate priority is to ensure that the defence sector fully takes its rightful place in the country.”

He underscored the need for enhanced cooperation across all security formations, stressing that national security requires collective effort.

“We need to strengthen the synergy between the Armed Forces, other security agencies, and all Nigerians. As we have always said, security is everybody’s responsibility. It is this synergy that we must build on and enhance, and that is exactly what we are going to do,” he stated.

The new Defence Minister expressed confidence that Nigerians would soon see tangible improvements in the nation’s security landscape. “I can assure you that within the shortest possible time, Nigerians will see results. I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate all Nigerians. They have shown me love, and I guarantee them that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that Nigeria is secure. Working together, we will achieve this,” he added.

The ceremony was attended by several senior government officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire. Also present were the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Others in attendance included Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa, spouse of the new Minister; General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto; and Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs (rtd).