A former Chief of Defence Staff is set to return to public service in a civilian capacity, as President Bola Tinubu prepares to reshuffle the defence portfolio following the exit of Mohammed Badaru.
Naija News had earlier reported that General Christopher Musa met the President at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday evening, arriving at the State House shortly after 7:00 pm for a closed-door session.
The visit was his first public engagement with the Presidency since his retirement from military service on October 24, 2025.
Top government sources told SaharaReporters that during the meeting, President Tinubu informed the retired defence chief that he would succeed Badaru as Nigeria’s next Defence Minister.
A presidency insider disclosed that Tinubu delivered the message directly, telling Musa, “You will succeed Badaru as Defence Minister.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Badaru, tendered his resignation late Monday night, citing health concerns as the core reason for stepping away from office.
In a letter dated December 1, 2025, addressed to President Tinubu, the minister said his decision to exit public service was based strictly on medical advice, according to a statement released by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday.
The statement read, “President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation.”
Badaru also received praise from the President, who expressed appreciation for his commitment during his tenure.
The Presidency confirmed that Tinubu would communicate the name of Badaru’s successor to the Senate imminently.
“President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week,” the statement added.
Before his appointment to Tinubu’s cabinet, Badaru served as a two-term governor of Jigawa State.
He governed Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023, before being appointed a minister on August 21, 2023, after the 2023 general elections.