Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, rtd., is poised to replace Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar as Minister of Defence, following Badaru’s resignation on health grounds.
Badaru, 63, tendered his resignation in a letter dated December 1 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu. The letter conveyed his decision to step down “with immediate effect,” citing medical reasons.
A statement issued late Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed appreciation for Badaru’s service to the nation.
According to Onanuga, the President is expected to communicate his choice of a successor to the Senate later this week, with General Musa emerging as the likely nominee.
Badaru, a two-term governor of Jigawa State, 2015–2023, was appointed Defence Minister on August 21, 2023. His exit comes at a critical moment, following President Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national security emergency, with further details of the initiative expected to be unveiled soon.
Recall that in October, President Tinubu ordered sweeping changes in the leadership of the Armed Forces as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and consolidate command loyalty within the military.
The shake-up saw General Olufemi Oluyede appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa, who had held the position until the restructuring.
