General Christopher Musa Biography: Age, Education, Rank & Net Worth
General Christopher Musa OFR (born December 25, 1967) is a former Nigerian army general who served as Nigeria’s 18th Chief of Defence Staff from June 19, 2023, till his retirement on October 24, 2025. On December 3, 2025, Nigeria’s Senate confirmed him as Minister of Defence
Christopher Gwabin Musa Biography
Christopher Musa was born on December 25, 1967, in Sokoto, the defunct North-Western State (now Sokoto State), Nigeria. He is from Zangon Kataf, Southern Kaduna State, Nigeria. Musa began attending Marafa Danbaba Primary School in Sokoto in 1974 and later transferred to Model Primary School on Dorowa Road in Sokoto in 1978, where he remained until 1980.
He then had vocational training in Gaummi, Sokoto, from 1980 to 1981. In 1981, he was enrolled in Federal Government College, Sokoto, finishing his O-levels in 1985. He was a member of the National Cadet Corps while enrolled.
He was admitted to the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria, and was there till 1986. Musa enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986, where he graduated as a member of the 38th Regular Course on 21 September 1991 with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.
Musa completed the Mechanical Transportation Officers Course in 1992, the Young Officers Course in Infantry in 1993, the Regimental Signal Officers Course in 1998, and the Junior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in 2000.
Between 2004 and 2005, he took a Senior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji. He graduated from the University of Lagos with an Advanced Diploma in Security Management in 2007-08.
Musa earned an Advanced Diploma in Defence and Strategies Course and a Master of Science (Military Science) from the International College of Defence Studies at National Defence University (ICDS-NDU) in Changping, China, from 2012 to 2013.
Musa completed the Combined Joint Land Component Commander’s Leadership Course at the United States Army War College in 2017.
Career
Musa was the General Staff Officer 1 for Training/Operations at Headquarters 81 Division. He has also served as Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion, Assistant Director of Operational Requirements at the Department of Army Policy and Plans, and Infantry Representative/Member of the Training Team at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
In 2019, he also served as Deputy Chief, Staff Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps, Commander Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
Musa served as Theatre Commander for Operation Hadin Kai in 2021. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, a position he held until he was appointed Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff on June 19, 2025. Musa’s appointment as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on July 13, 2023.
Musa was named as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence by President Bola Tinubu on December 2, 2025, after his retirement.
Awards and accolades
Musa and his wife will be honoured with the title of Tsuung Atyap by the Agwatyap, HH Sir Dominic Yahaya, on December 31, 2023. Musa received the Colin Powell Meritorious Soldiering Award in 2022.
In 2022, the African Youth Initiative for Good Governance and Peace awarded him the Nelson Mandela Exemplary Leadership Award for his extraordinary efforts in peacekeeping and the safeguarding of the nation’s territorial integrity.
Nonetheless, he received the Institute of Leadership Assessment and Development Fellowship in December 2022, at the 2nd edition of the Africa-Dubai Investment Business Summit in Dubai. Musa was named Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient of the Year by the Nigeria Service Awards panel of judges on November 23, 2023, after finishing first in the online nominating process.
Musa has also won the National Honour of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), the Nigerian Army Medal, the Grand Service Star, the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award, and the Field Command Medal of Honour.
The Atyap Chiefdom hosted the Agwatyap’s Buffet in his honour on December 31, 2023. HH Sir Dominic Yahaya bestowed upon him the title Tswung Atyap, which translates as “Pillar of Atyap”.
Christopher Musa wife
General Musa is married to Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa, a devoted woman who has supported him throughout his extensive military career. Their marriage has produced four children, and while he keeps his family life private, he frequently emphasizes the value of domestic stability.
Net Worth
Major General Christopher Musa’s estimated net worth in 2025 is between $800,000 and $1.5 million. His wealth is mostly derived from his long-term service in the Nigerian Army, official allowances, and genuine investments.
