The Nigeria Ministers of Defence are appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after the Senate had approved the nomination of the Minister of Defence by the President. The Minister is some time assist by the Minister of State. The Ministry of Defence Headquarters is located at the Ship House in Abuja. The ministry of defence organizational structure consists of the civilian and military compositions. The Permanent Secretary is the Accounting and Chief Administrative Officer of the ministry. The Permanent Secretary organized and directs the activities of the various Departments and Units in the ministry.

The military compositions are the :

• Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

which could be anyone of the three military. The Chief of  Defence staff control the Armed Forces, their combine operations and training of their manpower or personnel.

• The Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
• The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and
• The Chief of Air Staff (CAS).

while the COAS, the CNS and CAS mentioned above are responsible for the day to day running of their respective services. They reports to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) while the Defence Minister who is the political head of the ministry reports directly to the president.

I think YOU will agree with me when I say…

This write up will enable you to know:

1. The names of pasts and present Nigeria Ministers of Defence.

2. Nigeria Ministers of Defence portfolios.

3. When they were appointed as Nigeria minister of defence and when they left office.

4. Organization under the Ministry of Defence.

5. Paratastatals under the Ministry of Defence controls by Nigeria Ministers of Defence.

These are Pasts and Present Nigeria Ministers of Defence

1.

Muhammadu Ribadu

Oct. 1st, 1960 – May 1, 1965

Dr. Moses Majekodunmi

Army & Navy-State

Feb. 1960 – Aug. 1961

Jacob Obande

Army & Navy

Aug. 1961 – Dec. 1962

Ibrahim Tanko Galadima

Army & Navy

Jan. 1963 – Jan. 1966

2.

Inua Muhammed Wada

May,1965 – Jan. 1966

Shettima Ali Monguno

Air Force & Internal Affairs-State

1965 – 1966

3.

Alhaji Musa Daggash

Permanent Secretary

Jan. 1966 – Jul. 1966

4. 

Brigadier Illiya Bisalla

Aug.6, 1975 – Feb. 13, 1976

5. 

Akanbi Oniyangi

Dec. 1979 – Feb. 1982

6.

Audu Innocent Ogbeh

Feb. 1982 – Oct. 1983

7.

Maj. Gen. Domkat Yah Bali

 1984 – 1990

Don’t stop reading now…

8.

Lt. Gen. Sani Abacha

1990 – 1994

9.

General Sani Abacha

Himself who was the Commander-in-Chief is the substantive minister.

1994 – 1998

10.

Theophilus Danjuma

1999-2003

Mrs. Dupe Adelaja – State

1999-2001

Mrs. Dupe Adelaja – Navy

2001-2002

Chris Agbobu Navy

2002-2003

11.

Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso

Jul. 2003-2007

Rowland Oritsejafor- State

Jul. 2003-Aug. 2006

Dr. Olu Agunloye- Navy

2002-2003

Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi- State

Aug. 2006-May 2007

12.

Mahmud Yayale Ahmed

Jul. 2007-Sept. 2008

Fidelia Akabuata Njeze – State

Jul. 2007-Dec. 2008

13.

Shettima Mustapha

Dec. 2008-Jul. 2009

Ademola Rasaq Seriki- State

2008-2009

Read also : Ibrahim Babangida Regime

14.

Godwin Abbe

Jul. 2009-Mar. 2010

15.

Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN

Apr. 2010-May 2011

Murtala Shehu Yar’Adua- State

Apr. 2010-May 2011

16.

Dr. Bello Haliru Muhammed

Jul. 2011-Jun. 2012

Erelu Olusola Obada- State

She later became substantive minister after the resignation of Dr. Bello Haliru from July 2012 to Sept. 2013.

17.

Lt. Gen. Muhammed Aliyu Gusau (rtd).

Mar. 2014-Mar. 2015

Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro- State

2014-Oct. , 2014

18. 

Mansur Dan Ali

Nov. 2015-May 2019

19.

Bashir Salihu Magashi

Sept. 2019 till date

Organization under Nigeria Ministers of Defence

They are:

• The Defence Headquarters of Nigeria: It is headed by the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS).
• The Nigerian Army: It is headed by the Chief of Army Staff COAS).
• The Nigerian Navy : It is headed by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
• The Nigerian Air Force : It is headed by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS).

Paratastatals and agencies under the Nigeria Ministers of Defence.

They are:

1. The Defence Mission.
2. Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
3. Defence Intelligence School.
4. Military Pension Board (MPB).
5. Nigeria Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC).
6. Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
7. National Defence College (NDC).
8. Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (AFCSC).
9. Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).

We diligently research and continuesly update our information. Please let us know, if you find any error(s).

Thanks for visiting!