ABUJA — The presidency has tapped retired General Christopher Musa to succeed Mohammed Badaru Abubakar as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, following Abubakar’s resignation on health grounds.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Musa at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday evening their first meeting since Musa’s retirement as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on October 24, 2025. Sources say Tinubu informed Musa during the meeting that he would be appointed to the defence minister portfolio.
Mohammed Badaru Abubakar formally resigned in a letter dated December 1, citing ill-health. The resignation was accepted immediately by the president, who thanked him for his service.
Musa who until recently served as CDS and led several major counter-insurgency and security operations — is seen by many in government as a strong, experienced hand whose appointment could signal a shift to a more militarised approach amid Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
As the official transition awaits formal ratification, security watchers note the move comes at a critical time: with a national security emergency declared and rising attacks across multiple states. The Musa appointment is expected to be a central element in the government’s renewed strategy to tackle banditry, insurgency, and pervasive instability.