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Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from office with immediate effect, citing health reasons in a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and dated December 1. The resignation was confirmed in an official statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that President Tinubu had accepted the minister’s decision and expressed appreciation for his service to the nation.

Badaru Abubakar, 63, was appointed Minister of Defence on August 21, 2023, following President Tinubu’s assumption of office. Before joining the Federal Executive Council, he served as a two-term governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023, where he built a reputation as a technocrat and political administrator. His appointment to the defence portfolio, however, was received with mixed reactions, especially in the context of Nigeria’s protracted battles with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity.

His resignation comes at an especially sensitive time in the country’s security landscape. Only days earlier, President Tinubu had declared a national security emergency, promising sweeping measures to confront the escalating threats facing the nation. Although details of the emergency declaration are yet to be fully outlined, the timing of Badaru’s departure has intensified speculation about a broader restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture.

While the Presidency has not officially announced a replacement, strong indications have emerged that former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa (rtd.), is set to take over the position. Multiple government sources revealed that General Musa met with President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday evening, marking his first public appearance with the President since his retirement from military service on October 24, 2025.

According to those familiar with the meeting, President Tinubu informed Musa that he had been selected to succeed Badaru as Defence Minister, subject to the necessary constitutional and legislative procedures.

Should this be confirmed, Musa’s appointment would signal a return to the leadership of the nation’s defence sector by a seasoned military officer with extensive operational and strategic experience.

General Musa’s tenure as Chief of Defence Staff coincided with some of the most challenging security periods in the country’s recent history, including intensified counter-insurgency operations in the North-East and renewed efforts to tackle banditry and criminal networks across several regions. His possible return in a ministerial capacity has been interpreted by analysts as a shift toward a more hard-line, security-focused approach by the Tinubu administration.

In his statement, Bayo Onanuga noted that President Tinubu would “likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week,” in line with constitutional provisions requiring legislative confirmation of ministerial appointments. Until then, the Ministry of Defence is expected to continue functioning under existing administrative arrangements.

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the development, with many Nigerians hoping that the change in leadership will mark a turning point in the country’s fight against insecurity. Security experts, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens alike will be watching closely to see whether the expected new appointment translates into tangible improvements on the ground.

As Nigeria stands at a crossroads in its internal security challenges, the resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and the anticipated emergence of Christopher Musa as his successor may represent more than a simple change of guard. It may well signal the beginning of a new phase in the nation’s struggle to restore safety, stability and public confidence in its defence and security institutions.

StreetReporters.ng

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