By Comfort Asemota
President Bola Tinubu is set to announce a new Minister of Defence this week after the sudden resignation of the incumbent, Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down citing health reasons.
Abubakar, 63, conveyed his decision in a letter dated December 1, which was addressed to the President. The resignation takes immediate effect. The development was confirmed on Monday evening by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar said he was quitting on health grounds,” the statement read.
“President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation. President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week.”
Background: Badaru Abubakar
Abubakar served as a two-term governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023 before his appointment as Minister of Defence on August 21, 2023. His resignation comes amid rising insecurity in the country, which recently prompted President Tinubu to declare a nationwide security emergency.
The government has introduced measures including the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, deployment of forest guards, and enhanced protection for schools, churches, and mosques in vulnerable areas.
There had also been persistent calls from analysts for Abubakar’s removal, with critics questioning his suitability to lead the Defence Ministry.
Speculation Over Replacement
Hours before the resignation announcement, President Tinubu held a private meeting with former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), at the State House. Musa was sighted arriving at 7:03 p.m., wearing dark-green traditional northern attire, and was escorted into the President’s office wing by a senior security official.
This marked Musa’s first public engagement with the President since his retirement on October 24, 2025, sparking speculation about his potential appointment as the next Defence Minister. The purpose of the meeting was not immediately confirmed.
