Christopher Musa, Once Seen Saluting Bello Matawalle, Now Set to Become His Senior as Minister of Defence

In a striking turn of events within Nigeria’s defence leadership, Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), is now set to become the Minister of Defence, placing him above Bello Matawalle, whom he was once seen publicly saluting.

The development follows the resignation of Mohamed Badaru as Minister of Defence, prompting President Bola Tinubu to nominate Musa to take over the top defence portfolio. Matawalle, who currently serves as the Minister of State for Defence, will now operate under Musa once the appointment is confirmed.

A photo of the two men from 2023 — in which Musa, then CDS, saluted Matawalle during an official engagement — resurfaced on social media on Wednesday, sparking reactions over how quickly political hierarchies can shift in Nigeria’s public service.

Musa’s nomination has been widely discussed, with many noting his vast military experience, frontline knowledge of Nigeria’s security challenges, and years of service as key advantages for the role. Supporters say his elevation to Minister of Defence is a strategic move aimed at strengthening coordination between military leadership and civilian defence authorities.

Matawalle, a former Zamfara State governor, has not publicly commented on the new development.

If confirmed by the Senate, Christopher Musa will oversee Nigeria’s defence operations at the highest civilian policy level, marking a significant transition from saluting a minister to becoming the minister in charge.