December 2, 2025
The sudden resignation of the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on Monday has already intensified speculation about an imminent cabinet shake-up.
There are strong indications that more ministers may be eased out as the administration edges toward the 2027 election cycle, although it is not for anyone to predetermine what the President has in mind.
Badaru’s resignation, which was conveyed in a letter dated December 1 in which he cited health concerns requiring urgen and sustained attention, was addressed to President Tinubu.
The resignation brought to an abrupt end his tenure at a time when the nation is intensifying efforts to confront mounting security challenges and confirming weeks of quiet speculation over his reduced public engagements.
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President Tinubu has accepted Badaru’s resignation and expressed appreciation for his service, particularly his contributions to defence coordination and to ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the security framework.
Reacting to the development, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the resignation on his X handle.
Badaru’s tenure, grounded in his experience as a two-term governor, coincided with the administration’s renewed push to stabilise the country’s security landscape.
Insiders hint that Badaru’s departure may be the first in a series of quiet but strategic removals, reflecting a broader recalibration within the Tinubu administration.
Military analysts say Badaru’s resignation did not surprise close observers. What remains puzzling to some, however, is the length of time he stayed in office despite some missteps.
Within defence circles, there is growing sentiment that “it is time for President Tinubu to rejig the defence hierarchy by appointing a career military professional who commands the loyalty and confidence of the armed forces”, someone capable of deploying grounded operational experience to influence desired outcomes against insurgents and other violent groups.
Meanwhile, president Tinubu, has nominated former chief of defense staff, General Christopher Musa, as the next minister of defense.
The nomination was conveyed in a letter sent to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, announcing Musa as the replacement for Mohammed Badaru, who resigned from the position on Monday due to health reasons.
In his letter to the Senate, the President expressed confidence in Musa’s capacity to lead the defence ministry and strengthen Nigeria’s security framework.
The nomination was confirmed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
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Excerpt of the statement read, “General Musa, 58, on December 25, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
“Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
“General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career.
