The Presidency on Wednesday dismissed reports that the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), is planning to resign from office, insisting that he remains fully committed to his responsibilities and is focused on improving Nigeria’s security.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the reports as false and urged Nigerians to disregard them.
In a statement posted on his verified X account, Onanuga said the Defence Minister had no intention of stepping down and remained dedicated to implementing the Federal Government’s defence and security strategy.
He said the minister was concentrating on tackling the country’s security challenges and that the efforts of the administration were already producing positive results.
“General Musa not resigning as Defence Minister,” Onanuga wrote.
“General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) remains fully focused on his national security mandate, deeply committed to his duties, and completely dedicated to piloting the nation’s defence strategy with results already being seen.”
The statement came amid widespread speculation on social media that the Defence Minister had decided to leave office, with unverified reports claiming he had submitted or was preparing to submit his resignation.
However, the Presidency insisted that there was no truth in the reports, describing them as unfounded.
The latest clarification followed a similar denial issued earlier by the minister himself.
On Tuesday, Musa firmly rejected the resignation rumours while speaking with State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The minister had briefed the President on the country’s security situation, including ongoing military operations against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups operating across different parts of the country.
Speaking after the meeting, Musa said he had never discussed resigning from office with anyone and dismissed the reports as baseless.
He also warned those responsible for spreading the claims that legal action could be taken against them.
According to him, the reports were deliberately designed to mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion about the work of the Federal Government.
The minister maintained that he remains committed to supporting President Tinubu’s efforts to improve national security and restore peace in troubled parts of the country.
Musa was appointed Minister of Defence by President Tinubu in December 2025 after serving as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff.
His appointment followed the resignation of his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar, who stepped down from office just days earlier.
Before joining the Federal Executive Council, Musa had built a long military career spanning several decades.
As Chief of Defence Staff, he coordinated military operations against insurgents in the North-East, armed bandits in the North-West and North-Central, oil thieves in the Niger Delta and other criminal groups threatening national security.
His appointment as Defence Minister was widely seen as an effort by the Tinubu administration to maintain continuity in the country’s security strategy by placing an experienced military officer in charge of defence policy.
Since assuming office as minister, Musa has continued to work closely with the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies and other security institutions to address the country’s security challenges.
Nigeria has continued to battle several security threats, including the Boko Haram insurgency and attacks by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the North-East.
The country is also dealing with widespread banditry, kidnapping for ransom, communal clashes and attacks on farming communities, particularly in parts of the North-West and North-Central.
In the South-East, security agencies have also intensified operations against armed groups accused of attacking security personnel and government facilities.
The Federal Government has repeatedly assured Nigerians that security remains one of its top priorities.
President Tinubu has consistently directed security agencies to intensify operations against criminal groups while improving intelligence gathering and cooperation among the various security services.
In recent months, the military has announced several successes, including the elimination of suspected terrorists, the rescue of kidnapped victims, the destruction of criminal hideouts and the recovery of weapons and ammunition.
However, security experts have noted that despite these gains, significant challenges remain, especially in remote communities where attacks by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers continue to occur.
The Presidency’s latest statement appears aimed at putting an end to speculation surrounding the Defence Minister’s future and reassuring Nigerians that there has been no change in the leadership of the ministry.
In this case, both the Defence Minister and the Presidency have now publicly denied the claims, insisting that Musa remains in office and is fully focused on carrying out his duties.
With the Federal Government continuing its efforts to improve security across the country, officials say the Defence Ministry remains committed to supporting ongoing military operations and implementing strategies aimed at restoring peace, protecting lives and strengthening national security.
The Presidency maintained that General Musa enjoys the confidence of President Tinubu and remains focused on delivering on the administration’s security objectives, urging Nigerians to ignore false reports suggesting otherwise.