General Christopher Gwabin Musa: All you need to know about Nigeria's new Defence Minister

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00:00Nigeria's security leadership has taken a new direction and at the center of this transition

00:06is General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the newly appointed Minister of Defense.

00:12Let us take a brief but detailed look at the man stepping back into national service.

00:19Born on December 25, 1967 in Sokoto and originally from Zangon-Kataf in Southern Kaduna,

00:27Christopher Gwabin Musa grew up in a culturally diverse environment that shaped his values of

00:33unity and discipline. He completed schooling in Sokoto, studied at the College of Advanced Studies,

00:40Zarya, and in 1986 joined the Nigerian Defense Academy. By 1991, he was commissioned as a second

00:49lieutenant, beginning a career that would place him at the heart of Nigeria's security operations.

00:55Over the years, Musa sharpened his command skills through Nigeria's top military courses.

01:02In 2013, he earned an MSc in Military Science in China and later graduated from the United

01:09States Army War College in 2017, gaining global exposure in modern warfare and counter-terrorism.

01:17General Musa has served Nigeria's toughest operational zones. He commanded the 73 Battalion,

01:25led training and operations at Army headquarters, and added Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force

01:33around the Lake Chad Basin. In 2021, he became Theater Commander of Operation Ardinkai, leading the war

01:41against Boko Haram and Iswab in the northern eastern region of Nigeria. His leadership emphasized

01:49discipline, intelligence-driven operations, and community cooperation. His experience and record

01:56of service led to his appointment as Chief of Defense Staff in 2023, the peak of military leadership,

02:04and a role he held until October 2025. General Musa holds numerous honors, including the OFR,

02:12Grand Savista, and the Colin Powell Award for soldiering. On December 4, 2025, Musa was sworn in as

02:20Minister of Defense. His appointment comes at a time of heightened insecurity, from insurgency to kidnapping

02:29and banditry. Christopher Musa is happily married with children. He is known for humility, clear thinking,

02:37and a deep sense of duty. Starting his career from cadet to Chief of Defense Staff and now Minister of Defense,

02:45his journey reflects a life committed to Nigeria's unity and safety.