President Bola Tinubu is preparing to announce a new Minister of Defence following the sudden resignation of Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down citing health challenges.
Abubakar’s resignation, which takes immediate effect, was communicated in a letter dated December 1 and addressed to the President. The development was confirmed in a statement issued 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.”
Abubakar, 63, previously served two terms as Governor of Jigawa State before being appointed Defence Minister on August 21, 2023.
His exit comes at a critical time for the Tinubu administration, which is currently tackling escalating insecurity nationwide—an issue that recently prompted the President to declare a national security emergency. As part of new measures, Tinubu approved the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, the deployment of forest guards, and enhanced protection for schools, churches, and mosques in vulnerable areas.
Calls for Abubakar’s removal had intensified in recent months, with some analysts arguing that he lacked the capacity to lead the ministry effectively. His resignation has now opened the door to a swift replacement.
Fueling further speculation, President Tinubu on Monday held a closed-door meeting with former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), at the State House. Musa, who retired on October 24, 2025, arrived at 7:03 p.m. in dark-green traditional attire and was escorted into the President’s office wing by a senior security official.
While the details of the meeting remain unclear, it has ignited fresh debate over who will take over the Defence Ministry as the administration races to fill the strategic position.
