Ofure Akhigbe
President Bola Tinubu is expected to appoint a new Minister of Defence this week following the resignation of the incumbent, Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.
Abubakar’s resignation, which takes immediate effect, was conveyed in a letter dated December 1, 2025, and addressed to the President.
The development was announced on Monday evening in a statement by the President’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,” it added, indicating that the process of replacing the minister is already underway.
Abubakar, 63, 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 exit comes at a sensitive time for the administration, which is grappling with worsening insecurity that recently compelled President Tinubu to declare a nationwide security emergency.
The President has since unveiled new measures, including the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, deployment of forest guards, and stepped-up security for schools, churches and mosques in vulnerable communities.
There have also been persistent calls from some security analysts for Abubakar’s removal, with critics questioning his suitability to lead the ministry.
Hours before the announcement of his resignation, President Tinubu met privately with former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), at the State House.
Our correspondent observed Musa arriving at 7:03 p.m. in dark-green northern-style traditional attire before being escorted into the President’s office wing by a senior security official. It was his first public meeting with the President since his retirement on October 24, 2025.
The purpose of the meeting could not be immediately confirmed, but it has intensified speculation over who may replace Abubakar as Defence Minister.