CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF

Profile of the CDS

GENERAL CG MUSA OFR

CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF

To Nurture a Professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is People Centric, Capable of Meeting its Constitutional Responsibilities in a Joint and Collaborative Environment

General Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR was born on 25 December 1967 in Sokoto State and hails from Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He was granted Regular Combatant Commission as a member of 38 Regular Course on 21 September 1991 in the rank of Second Lieutenant with seniority on the same rank effective 21 September 1986. He is of the Infantry Corps.

He has attended several courses among which are Young Officers’ Course (Infantry), Mechanical Transport Officers’ Course, Regimental Signal Officers’ Course, Junior Staff Course, Senior Staff Course, Defence and Strategic Studies Course (China), Combined Joint Land Component Task Force Commanders’ Course (United States of America).

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry, a Diploma in Defence and Strategic Studies, an Advanced Diploma in Security Management and a Master in Military Science from National Defence University China. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and a Fellow of Disaster Management and Safety Science.

General CG Musa was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff on 19 June 2023 by the President, C-in-C of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. He is also currently the Chairman of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff.

General CG Musa has held the following command, staff and instructional appointments which include:

a.  Platoon Commander – 192 Motorized Battalion.
b.  Company Second-in-Command – 81 Guards Battalion.
c.  Administration Officer – 2 Division Camp.
d.  Adjutant – 195 Battalion.
e.  Staff Officer Grade 2 Logistics – HQ 2 Division.
f.  Student – S1 List – Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
g.  Battalion Second-in-Command – 149 Battalion.
h.  General Staff Officer Grade One – Headquarters 81 Division. Operations
i.  Commanding Officer – 73 Battalion.
j.  Assistant Director of Operations – Army Headquarters Department of Army Policy and Plans.
k.  Infantry Representative – Nigerian Army Armour School.
l. Participant – S1 List – National Defence College (China).
m. Deputy Chief of Staff Operations – Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre.
n. Chief of Staff – Headquarters 2 Division.
o. Commandant – Depot Nigerian Army.
p. Principal Staff Officer Combat Arms – Office of the COAS.
q. Executive Director – Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited.
r. Executive Director Nigerian Army Farms – Army Headquarters and Ranches Limited Department of Projects and Plans.
s. Commander – Headquarters Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
t. Chief of General Duties – Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command.
u. Director Campaign Planning – Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations.
v. Director of Training – Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations.
w. Senior Research Fellow – Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
x. Theatre Commander – Headquarters Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI.
y. Commander Infantry Corps – Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre.