President Bola Tinubu is set to appoint a new Minister of Defence following the resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down from office on health grounds.
Badaru submitted his resignation in a letter dated December 1 and addressed to the President. A presidency source confirmed that Tinubu accepted the decision and commended the former minister for his service to the nation at a critical period of security challenges.
The development comes at a time Nigeria is battling widespread insecurity, including banditry, insurgency and kidnapping across several states. The sudden vacancy at the Defence Ministry has heightened concerns over continuity in the ongoing security operations.
Multiple sources within the presidency disclosed that Tinubu has begun consultations on Badaru’s replacement, with the name of a recently retired Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, emerging prominently. It was also gathered that Musa recently held a closed door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
A senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the President is determined to ensure a seamless transition at the Defence Ministry to avoid any operational vacuum. The source added that the nominee will be forwarded to the Senate for screening and confirmation once the President concludes consultations.
Badaru was appointed Defence Minister in 2023 as part of Tinubu’s first cabinet. His tenure coincided with heightened military operations against terrorists and criminal groups across the country.
If appointed, Musa is expected to bring his extensive military experience to bear on Nigeria’s worsening security situation as the administration intensifies efforts to restore peace nationwide.
