Profile of Major General Christopher Gwabin MUSA, Appointed Chief of Defence Staff

Major General Christopher Gwabin Musa hails from Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna state, North West Nigeria. He was born on 25 December 1967 in Sokoto State.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Major General Christopher Musa went to Marafa Danbaba Primary School Sokoto from 1974 – 1978, attended Model Primary School Dorowa Road Sokoto - 1978 – 1980 before joining a Vocational Training Centre Gaummi, Sokoto - 1980 – 1981.

He later enrolled into the Federal Government College Sokoto - 1981 – 1985 and later the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria - 1985 – 1986. He  obtained a Bachelor of Science Hons at the Nigerian Defence Academy betyween 1986 – 1990 and an Advanced Diploma in Security Management –University of Lagos from 2007 – 2008.

General Musa obtained Masters of Science (Mil Science) at the International College of Defence Studies at the National Defence University Changing – Beijing China from 2012 – 2013. He went to the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 38th Regular Course 21 in September 1991. He also did a Mechanical Transportation Officers Course in 1992.  

General CG Musa went through Young Officers Course Infantryin 1993, Regimental Signal Officers Course – 1998 and Junior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji - 2000.  He went for Senior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji - 2004 – 2005 before going on to earn an Advanced Diploma in Defence and Strategies Course (China) at the International College of Defense Studies, National Defense University (ICDS-NDU) – ChangPing China – 2013, MSc (Military Science) – ICDS-BDU (China) – 2013 and National Dfence College at ICDS (China) - 2013. General Musa also did a Combined Joint Land Component Commander’s Course on Leadership at the US Army War College in 2017.

APPOINTMENTS HELD

He was Platoon Commander at 192 Battalion in 1991, Intelligence Officer at 192 Battalion in 1993 – 1994,  Administrative Officer at 2 Division Camp (Garrison) from 1995 – 1999. He was the Pioneer Adjutant 195 B – 2000, an Operations Officer – NIBATT 8 UNAMSIL - 2001 – 2002, 195 Battalion 2ic 2002 – 2003, 149 Battalion 2ic 2005 – 2006, General Staff Officer 1 Training/Operations at Headquarters 81 Division 2006 – 2007, Commanding Officer 73 Battalion 2007 – 2009, Assistant Director Operational Requirement at Department of Army Policy and Plans - 2009 – 2011.

General Musa was Infantry Representative/Member Training Team at HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps - 2011 – 2012, Deputy Chief of Staff Training/Operations at HQ Infantry Centre and Corp - 2013 – 2014, Chief of Staff at HQ 2 Division - 2014 – 2015. He also held the position of the Commandant Depot Nigerian Army - 2015 – 2017, Principal Staff Officer (Combat Arms) at Army HQ Department of Projects and Programmes – 2017, Pioneer Executive Director Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Ltd – 2017, Commander 82 Division Task Force Brigade OPERTION LAST HOLD in the North East in 2018 and Commander Sector 3 OP LAFIYA DOLE - 2019.

He was also Commander Sect 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Tchad Region – 2019, Chief of General Duties TRADOC - 2019 – 2020, Director Campaign Planning AHQ DATOPs – 2020, Director Training AHQ-DATOPs – 2020, Senior Research Fellow, Nigerian Army Research Centre - 2021 and Theatre Commanader Joint Task Force (NE) Op HADIN KAI from 2021 to early 2023.

 

OPERATIONS ATTENDED

Operation MESA, OP SECOND HEAVEN, OP FOCUS RELIEF, (Joint Training/Ops with the US Troops) 2000, United Nation Mission in Sierra Leone - 2001 – 2002, OP HAKURI 2002 – 2003, OP SAFE CONDUCT – 2007, OP RESTORE HOPE 2007 – 2008, OP SAFE CONDUCT – 2015, OP AYAM APATUMEH 2018, OP LAST HOLD 2018, OP LAFIYA DOLE 2019, Multi-National Joint Task Force Lake Tchad  2019, OP KANTANA JIMLAM  2020, JTF (NE) Op HADIN KAI – 2021-2023.

HONOURS/AWARDS

BSc Hons (Chn) NDA – 1990, UNAMSIL Medal – 2002, Passed Staff Course (psc) 2004 – 2005, Forces Service Star 2003. Meritorious Service Star – 2009, Distinguished Service Star – 2015, Member Nigerian Institute of Management – 2008, Advance Diploma in Security Management at Unilag – 2008. Member Nigerian Institute of Industrial Security – 2008, General Operation Medal – 2009, Command Medal (CO 73 Bn) – 2009, Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award – 2009, Silver Jubilee Medal – 2010, Meritorious Service 2012, Fellow-NDU (ICDS-NDU)-ChangPing China – 2013, Masters in Military Science at the ICDS-NDU China – 2013, Diploma in Defense and Strategy ICDS-NDU Chin – 2013, Centenary Medal – 2014, Distinguished Service Star – 2016,Training Support Medal – 2017, OP LAST HOLD Medal – 2018.

Others are OP LAFIYA DOLE Medal – 2019, MNJTF Medal – 2021, Grand Service Star (GSS) - 21 Sep 21, Field Commander Medal of Honour (FCMH) - Jun 21 – 2023, Operation HADIN KAI Medal (OPHK) - Jun 21 – 2023, Fellow Disaster Management and Safety Science (FDMSS) - Sep 22 12.

General Christopher Musa is married to Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa and blessed with 4 children Kuyet, Yashim, Bobai and Ndih. His Hobbies are majorly Service to humanity.