Meet New Chief Of Defence Staff From Zango Kataf, Kaduna State

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS) Christopher Gwabin Musa was born on December 25, 1967, in Sokoto State in northwest Nigeria, and completed his elementary and secondary education there despite coming from the Christian South of Kaduna State’s Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.
He has been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria on June 2023.
Profile
Here is a brief overview of Gen. C.G Musa
Age: 55yrs
State: Kaduna
Religion: Christianity
Marital Status: Married
Education; Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna
Military training
He was accepted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State in 1986, and for five years, while the Nigerian military ruled the nation, he received rigorous and grueling military training.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in September 1991 as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Corps, one of the most challenging divisions of the army due to its physical and mental demands.
Successful Operation
Major General Chris Musa, the Theatre Commander for “Operation Hadin Kai,” has helped Nigerian Armed Forces reclaim the upper hand after more than ten years of fighting Islamist insurgents in the northeast.
The senior commander has been at the center of various issues, including the Kaduna massacre, even though he is revered in the army.
Military/Civil Courses
a. Nigerian Defence Academy as member of the 38th RC- 21 Sep 1991.
b. Mechanical Transportation Officers Course – 1992.
c. Young Officers Course (Infantry) – 1993.
Regimental Signal Officers Course – 1998.
e. Junior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji
– 2000.
f. Senior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji
– 2004 – 2005.
g. Advance Diploma in Defence and Strategies Course (China) – International
College of Defense Studies National Defense University (ICDS-NDU) – ChangPing
China – 2013.
h. MSc (Military Science) – ICDS-BDU (China) – 2013.
i. National Dfence College at ICDS (China) – 2013.
j. Combined Joint Land Component Commander’s Course on Leadership at the
US Army War College. – 2017.
APPOINTMENTS HELD
a. Platoon Commander at 192 Bn – 1991.
b. Intelligence Officer at 192 Bn – 1993 – 1994.
c. Administrative Officer at 2 Div Camp (Garrison) – 1995 – 1999.
d. Pioneer Adjutant 195 Bn – 2000.
e. Operations Officer – NIBATT 8 UNAMSIL – 2001 – 2002.
f. 195 Bn 2ic – 2002 – 2003.
g. 149 Bn 2ic – 2005 – 2006.
h. General Staff Officer 1 Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division 2006 – 2007.
i. Commanding Officer 73 Bn – 2007 – 2009.
j. Assistant Director Operational Requirement at the Department of Army Policy and
Plans – 2009 – 2011.
k. Infantry Representative/Member Training Team at HQ Nigerian Army Armour
Corps – 2011 – 2012.
l. Deputy Chief of Staff Training/Operations at HQ Infantry Centre and Corp
– 2013 – 2014.
m. Chief of Staff at HQ 2 Division – 2014 – 2015.
n. Commandant Depot Nigerian Army – 2015 – 2017.
o. Principal Staff Officer (Combat Arms) at Army HQ Department of Projects and
Programs – 2017.
p. Pioneer Executive Director Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Ltd
– 2017
q. Commander 82 Division Task Force Brigade OP LAST HOLD in the North East
– 2018.
r. Commander Sector 3 OP LAFIYA DOLE – 2019.
s. Comd Sect 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Tchad Region
– 2019.
t. Chief of General Duties TRADOC – 2019 – 2020.
u. Director Campaign Planning AHQ DATOPs – 2020.
v. Director Training AHQ-DATOPs – 2020.
w. Senior Research Fellow, Nigerian Army Research Centre
– 2021.
x. Theatre Comd JTF (NE) Op HADIN KAI – 2021 till date.
OPERATIONS ATTENDED
a. OP MESA.
b. OP SECOND HEAVEN.
c. OP FOCUS RELIEF, (Joint Training/Ops with the US Troops)
– 2000.
d. United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone – 2001 – 200.
e. OP HAKURI – 2002 – 2003.
f. OP SAFE CONDUCT – 2007.
g. OP RESTORE HOPE – 2007 – 2008.
h. OP SAFE CONDUCT – 2015.
i. OP AYAM APATUMEH – 2018.
j. OP LAST HOLD – 2018.
k. OP LAFIYA DOLE – 2019.
l. Multi-National Joint Task Force Lake Tchad – 2019.
m. OP KANTANA JIMLAM – 2020.
n. JTF (NE) Op HADIN KAI – 2021 till date.
HONOURS/AWARDS
Honors/Awards
a. BSc Hons (Chn) NDA – 1990.
b. UNAMSIL Medal – 2002.
c. Passed Staff Course (psc) – 2004 – 2005.
d. Forces Service Star – 2003.
e. Meritorious Service Star – 2009.
f. Distinguished Service Star – 2015.
g. Member Nigerian Institute of Management – 2008.
h. Advance Diploma in Security Management at Unilag – 2008.
i. Member Nigerian Institute of Industrial Security – 2008.
j General Operation Medal – 2009.
k. Command Medal (CO 73 Bn) – 2009.
l. Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award – 2009.
m. Silver Jubilee Medal – 2010.
n. Meritorious Service – 2012.
o. Fellow-NDU (ICDS-NDU)-ChangPing China – 2013.
p. Masters in Military Science at the ICDS-NDU China – 2013.
q. Diploma in Defense and Strategy ICDS-NDU Chin – 2013.
r. Centenary Medal – 2014.
s. Distinguished Service Star – 2016.
t. Training Support Medal – 2017.
u. OP LAST HOLD Medal – 2018.
v. OP LAFIYA DOLE Medal – 2019.
w. MNJTF Medal – 2021.
x. Grand Service Star (GSS) – 21 Sep 21.
y. Field Commander Medal of Honour (FCMH) – Jun 21 – till date.
z. Operation HADIN KAI Medal (OPHK) – Jun 21 – till date.
Marital Status: Married to Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa and blessed with four children.
Hobbies: Service to humanity.
Chief of Defence Staff
On June 20, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him as Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff.

Credit :Platinumtimes.ng