President Bola Tinubu is expected to announce a new Minister of Defence this week following the sudden resignation of Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down citing health concerns.
Abubakar’s resignation, effective immediately, was contained in a December 1 letter to the President and confirmed in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The President has accepted the resignation and is preparing to notify the Senate of a replacement.
The 63-year-old former Jigawa governor, who assumed office as Defence Minister on August 21, 2023, leaves at a time when the administration is battling heightened insecurity. Tinubu recently declared a nationwide security emergency, ordering the recruitment of 20,000 police officers, deploying forest guards, and boosting protection for schools and worship centres.
Abubakar had faced criticism from analysts who questioned his suitability for the role. Hours before the resignation was announced, Tinubu held a private meeting with former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), marking Musa’s first visit to the State House since retiring on October 24, 2025.
