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President Bola Tinubu is preparing to appoint a new Minister of Defence this week, following the unexpected resignation of the current holder of the office, Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down due to health challenges.
Abubakar’s resignation, which takes immediate effect, was communicated through a letter dated December 1 and addressed to the President.
The development was made public in a statement released on Monday evening by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement said: “In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar said he was quitting on health grounds.”
It added: “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,” indicating that steps towards selecting a replacement are already in progress.
Abubakar, aged 63, previously served as the Governor of Jigawa State for two terms between 2015 and 2023, before he was appointed Minister of Defence on August 21, 2023.
His resignation comes at a delicate period for the administration, which is currently battling increasing security challenges that recently led President Tinubu to declare a national security emergency.
The President also announced fresh security measures, including the recruitment of 20,000 more police officers, the deployment of forest guards, and enhanced protection for schools, churches, and mosques in areas considered vulnerable.
There have been continuous criticisms from analysts demanding Abubakar’s removal, claiming he was not suitable to head the ministry.
Just a few hours before news of his resignation was released, President Tinubu held a private meeting with the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), inside the State House.
Our correspondent observed Musa arriving at about 7:03 p.m. dressed in dark-green traditional northern attire with elbow-length sleeves, before being escorted by a senior security officer to the President’s office wing.
It marked his first public meeting with the President since his retirement on October 24, 2025.
The purpose of the meeting was not immediately confirmed, but it intensified public speculation about who might take over from Abubakar as Minister of Defence.
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