President Bola Tinubu is expected to name former Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s next Minister of Defence following the sudden resignation of Badaru Abubakar, senior government officials told Chronicle Reporters late Monday.
General Musa, who was retired by President Tinubu on October 24, 2025, met privately with the President at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday evening—his first publicized visit since leaving office. According to high-level sources familiar with the discussion, the President informed Musa that he would “step in as Defence Minister” pending formal notification to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria later this week.
Abubakar’s resignation was conveyed in a letter dated December 1 and made public by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. He disclosed that the outgoing minister cited health reasons for stepping down—a decision President Tinubu accepted with appreciation for his service.
A two-term former governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar had been appointed as Defence Minister on August 21, 2023. His exit comes at a sensitive moment, just as the President has declared a national security emergency, with the administration expected to unveil detailed measures in the coming days.
If confirmed, Musa’s appointment will place a recently retired military chief at the helm of the country’s defence apparatus as Nigeria navigates heightened security challenges nationwide.