President Bola Tinubu has nominated a former Chief of Defence Employees, Basic Christopher Musa as the brand new Minister of Defence.
In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed Basic Musa’s nomination because the successor to Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday, a press release by Bayo Onanuga, Particular Adviser to the President on Info and Technique disclosed on Tuesday.
“Basic Musa, 58, on December 25, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Employees from 2023 till October 2025. He received the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Basic Musa obtained his major and secondary training there earlier than attending the School of Superior Research in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled on the Nigerian Defence Academy the identical yr, incomes a Bachelor of Science diploma upon commencement in 1991.
Basic Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Military as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished profession. His appointments embrace Basic Employees Officer 1, Coaching/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Necessities, Division of Military Coverage and Plans; and Infantry Consultant/Member, Coaching Staff, HQ Nigerian Military Armour Corps.
In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Employees, Coaching/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Job Pressure within the Lake Chad Area.
In 2021, Basic Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later grew to become Commander of the Nigerian Military Infantry Corps earlier than being appointed Chief of Defence Employees by President Tinubu in 2023.
Within the letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Basic Musa’s capability to guide the Ministry of Defence and additional strengthen Nigeria’s safety structure,” the assertion learn.