By Odita Sunday
History will recognise Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as a transformative leader who redefined regional military collaboration. As one of Nigeria’s most distinguished defence chiefs, he has set an unprecedented benchmark in fostering unity among West African military forces.
On Thursday, 13 March 2025, General Musa hosted military chiefs from across the West African subregion at the Armed Forces Headquarters in Abuja. The high-profile gathering focused on strategic initiatives, notably the establishment of a counter-terrorism brigade and the formation of a Standby Force.
Nigeria takes pride in having General Musa as Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff. His visionary leadership within the regional military bloc has been a catalyst for stronger integration and security cooperation.
Unlike leaders who project influence abroad while neglecting domestic affairs, General Musa has maintained a balance. As Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, he has spearheaded a multifaceted strategy to combat insurgency, strengthen regional partnerships, and enhance the operational effectiveness of frontline troops. A true soldier’s soldier, his leadership is as impactful at home as it is internationally.
One of his most significant domestic achievements is reinforcing Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations, particularly in the fight against Boko Haram and other extremist factions. Under his command, the military has successfully reclaimed territories previously overrun by insurgents, dismantled their strongholds, and inflicted heavy losses on their ranks.
General Musa’s leadership philosophy for Nigeria’s Armed Forces revolves around professionalism, a people-centric approach, and joint operational effectiveness. This strategy has yielded tangible results, weakening insurgents, terrorists, bandits, and oil thieves—many of whom have surrendered in the face of relentless military pressure.
His credentials as a leader with regional influence were on full display during the closing ceremony of the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff, where military leaders from Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana, and other West African nations gathered to discuss critical security issues.
In his closing remarks, General Musa commended the depth of their discussions, emphasising their shared commitment to regional security.
“In the course of our deliberations, we identified critical vulnerabilities to regional security and demonstrated our firm resolve to address these threats. As expected, there were areas of concern between members but, more importantly, there was a firm resolve on the need for collective action.
“This is the spirit of this gathering, which is firmly rooted in a resolute commitment to meeting our primary obligation as members of the armed and defence forces of our respective countries—to defend and protect our peoples from harm and insecurities,” he articulated.
The military chiefs had, over a few days, reviewed key issues, including pledges for the ECOWAS Standby Force, proposals for the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Brigade, and the rotation of peace support operation staff.
General Musa highlighted the importance of logistical frameworks, presenting insights from the Governmental Experts Meeting on ECOWAS Logistics Concepts and Standing Operating Procedures for the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone. He also addressed the outcomes of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Naval Staff Meeting: “It is with great pleasure and honour that I stand before you all to deliver these closing remarks on the occasion of the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff. Our gathering over the past three days has been dedicated to promoting regional security and cooperation within the ECOWAS Community, forging a united front against our shared security challenges.”
He expressed deep appreciation for the Chairman of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, Nigeria’s President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for his unwavering leadership in making the conference a success. He also extended gratitude to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, for his crucial support.
In his parting words, he acknowledged the commitment of his fellow defence chiefs: “I am indeed grateful to all the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff from Benin Republic, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo who took time out of their busy schedules to grace this meeting. The task ahead of us is daunting, but with our collective resolve, we shall overcome. I wish you all a safe journey as we depart to our various destinations.”
General Musa has solidified his reputation as a steadfast guardian of peace and stability. His dedication to regional and national security remains deserving of the highest accolades from Nigerians.