EXCLUSIVE: U.S. DEMANDS SHAKE-UP IN NIGERIA’S DEFENCE MINISTRY — PRESSURE MOUNTS ON TINUBU TO SACK MATAWALLE AFTER BADARU’S EXIT

A fresh wave of political tension has gripped the Presidency as pressure intensifies on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, following the sudden “resignation” of Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.

SaharaReporters can authoritatively reveal that the United States government insisted on the removal of both Badaru and Matawalle as a condition for deep security collaboration with Nigeria, particularly on counterterrorism and anti-banditry operations.

A top government insider confirmed the development, describing the atmosphere within the administration as “extremely tense.”

> “The pressure on President Tinubu is enormous. The U.S. made it clear that cooperation will only proceed if both Badaru and Matawalle are replaced. Badaru is out already — all eyes are now on Matawalle,” the source disclosed.

BADARU’S SUDDEN RESIGNATION SHOCKS ABUJA

On Monday evening, SaharaReporters broke the news that Badaru had tendered his resignation — a move that sent shockwaves through security and political circles.

Multiple senior officials confirmed that former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is set to replace him. Musa visited President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa earlier in the day — his first public engagement with the President since his retirement on October 24, 2025.

Sources say the meeting was decisive.

> “President Tinubu personally informed General Musa that he will succeed Badaru as Defence Minister,” another insider revealed.

Shortly afterwards, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, released an official statement confirming Badaru’s resignation.

According to the statement, Badaru stepped down “on health grounds.”
President Tinubu thanked him for his service and is expected to formally notify the Senate of his replacement later this week.

Badaru, 63, served two terms as Governor of Jigawa State before joining Tinubu’s cabinet in August 2023.

This development comes amid renewed diplomatic friction between Abuja and Washington.

Only days ago, the U.S. redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing what it described as “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”

The CPC designation — one of Washington’s most critical human rights labels — was driven by claims of:

Widespread attacks on Christian communities

Mass killings attributed to extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP

Allegations by advocacy groups that Nigeria records more Christian deaths annually than the rest of the world combined


Some U.S.-based advocacy coalitions characterized the violence as “genocidal.”

Nigeria strongly rejected this assertion.

TINUBU GOVT SCRAMBLES TO MANAGE FALLOUT

In an urgent move to salvage relations, the Federal Government dispatched a high-level delegation to Washington, led by National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Both sides reportedly agreed on joint mechanisms to address insecurity and religious freedom concerns.

But diplomatic insiders reveal that Washington’s position was unmistakable: serious defence-sector reforms must begin with the removal of Badaru and Matawalle.

With Badaru gone, the spotlight now rests squarely on Bello Matawalle.

As the pressure builds, Aso Rock is said to be weighing political, diplomatic, and security implications. Removing a second minister in the same sensitive sector could signal a major reset of the administration’s security architecture — and a landmark shift in U.S.–Nigeria relations.

For now, the nation watches closely as President Tinubu faces one of his most consequential defence-policy decisions yet.