President Bola Tinubu is set to nominate General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the new Minister of Defence, following the resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar due to health reasons.
Musa met with Tinubu on Monday evening at the Presidential Villa, marking their first public meeting since Musa’s retirement on October 24, 2025.
It is been suggested that Musa is Tinubu’s preferred candidate to replace Badaru Abubakar.
Abubakar, 63, resigned on December 1, 2025, citing health grounds, after serving as Defence Minister since August 21, 2023.
Meanwhile, this is coming amid a national security emergency declared by Tinubu, aimed at tackling widespread insecurity and violence across Nigeria.
Tinubu is expected to forward Musa’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation later this week.
If confirmed, Musa’s appointment would be a significant move in Nigeria’s security strategy, given his experience as Chief of Defence Staff and his role in counter-insurgency operations.