President Bola Tinubu is expected to name a new Minister of Defence this week following the unexpected resignation of the incumbent, Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down citing health challenges.
Abubakar’s resignation took immediate effect and was formally communicated to the President in a letter dated December 1. The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday evening by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Abubakar informed the President that his decision to quit was strictly due to health concerns. President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude for Abubakar’s contributions to the administration.
The statement also noted that the President is expected to forward the name of a new ministerial nominee to the Senate later this week, signalling that the search for his replacement is in advanced stages.
Abubakar, 63, previously served two terms as governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023 before being appointed Minister of Defence on August 21, 2023.
His exit comes at a critical time for the administration, which has been under pressure to tackle escalating insecurity across the country. The government recently declared a nationwide security emergency and announced new measures, including the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, the deployment of forest guards, and enhanced protection for schools, churches, and mosques in high-risk areas.
Before his resignation was made public, President Tinubu held a private meeting with former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), at the State House. Musa was seen arriving around 7:03 p.m., marking his first known visit to the Villa since retiring on October 24, 2025.
Although details of the meeting remain unclear, it has intensified speculation about potential candidates to fill the now-vacant Defence Minister position.
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