Nigeria’s defence minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned his appointment, with immediate effect.
Bayo Onanuga , Presidential Spokesperson in a statement disclosed that Abubakar in a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, said he was quitting on health grounds.
Accirdibg to Onanuga , President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation.
The President will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week.
Badaru Abubakar, 63, was a two-term governor of Jigawa state from 2015 to 2023. He was appointed as a minister on August 21, 2023, by President Tinubu.
His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.
Meanwhile, indications are that Gen. Christopher Musa, the erstwhile Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), might take over the role.
Speculations were rife last night that Musa, who was relieved of his appointment as CDS by President Bola Tinubu, might replace Badaru, after his (Musa’s) meeting with the president
Musa was appointed as the 18th Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria on June 23, 2023. During his tenure, he was widely credited with leading major restructuring and modernisation efforts in the military
-On October 24, 2025, the president announced a major reshuffle of the country’s military leadership.
Under this shake-up, Musa was removed from his position as the CDS and was replaced by Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.
