Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence is set to undergo a major leadership change after Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar resigned amid security challenges facing the country.
It was also gathered that President Bola Tinubu has swiftly accepted the resignation, with strong indications pointing to a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the likely new Defence Minister.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Nigeria’s Defence Minister resigned on Monday. The resignation of the former Minister, who assumed office in August 2023, was formally tendered in a letter dated December 1st.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the resignation of Badaru, stating it was due to health grounds.
“Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned his appointment, with immediate effect. In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar stated that he was quitting due to health reasons.
“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,” Onanuga said in the statement.
Badaru Abubakar, 63, was a two-term governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023. He was appointed minister on August 21, 2023, by Tinubu, the statement added.
While the official reason is health-related, the resignation follows months of public criticism over the government’s perceived inability to curb the rising tide of banditry, kidnappings, and insurgency across various states.
Recall that there was a significant surge in attacks in November 2025.
On Friday, November 21, 2025, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri area. They initially abducted more than 300 students and 12 staff members. However, around 50 of the pupils later managed to escape.
Also, in Kebbi State, gunmen attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, abducting 25 schoolgirls and reportedly killing the school’s vice principal. All the schoolgirls have been released.
There was also an attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA which reportedly resulted in the killing of at least two worshippers and the abduction of about 35 congregants and the pastor. The abducted Christians were released days after the attack.
Meanwhile, sources quoted by media reports on Tuesday revealed that Musa is being strongly considered to take over as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence.
Sources said that was the reason Musa reportedly met with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, his first public engagement with the President since his removal as defence chief on 24 October 2025.
According to sources, the President reportedly used the meeting to inform Musa of his intention to appoint him as Badaru’s successor.
One of the sources said: “During the meeting, President Tinubu told General Musa that he would succeed Badaru as Defence Minister.”
Meanwhile, the possibility of Musa taking over the Defence Ministry has ignited widespread discussion on social media.
A popular columnist and United States-based academic, Farooq Kperogi, reacting after the Defence Minister resigned, questioned the official “health grounds” narrative.
He said: “In Tinubu’s administration, ‘health grounds’ has become the political version of ‘my dog ate my homework.’ It usually means the person has been fired but needs a polite exit.
“Badaru had no business being the defence minister in the first place. He brought no relevant experience to the role… The appointment was baffling to anyone who genuinely worries about Nigeria’s survival.”
Kperogi also aimed at Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, describing his presence in the ministry as “unjustifiable,” citing allegations of his links to bandit groups.
However, Kperogi endorsed the possibility of Musa’s appointment: “If Omoyele Sowore is right that Tinubu plans to replace Badaru with former Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, that would be a good call. General Musa knows the terrain and has actually fought the internal enemies Nigeria wants to defeat.”
Below are some other reactions;
