Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar tendered his resignation as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence on Monday night, and reliable government insiders have revealed that former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is poised to take over the role.
General Musa reportedly met with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday evening, his first public interaction with the President since Tinubu approved his retirement on October 24 2025. According to sources who spoke with SaharaReporters, President Tinubu informed Musa during the meeting that he would be appointed as Badaru’s successor.
Badaru’s resignation was submitted in a letter dated December 1 in which he cited health concerns as the reason for stepping down. This was confirmed by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
“President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude to Badaru for his service to the nation,” Onanuga said in an official statement.
He added that the President is expected to notify the Senate of the new Defence Minister later this week.
Badaru Abubakar, aged 63, previously served two terms as the governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023 before President Tinubu appointed him to the federal cabinet on August 21 2023.
His exit comes at a critical time, following President Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national security emergency, with further details on the initiative expected soon.
