Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, has officially stepped down from his role after submitting his resignation to President Bola Tinubu on Monday.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who noted that President Tinubu immediately accepted Badaru’s resignation.
The statement said, “Nigeria’s defence minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned his appointment, with immediate effect.
‘In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar said he was quitting on health grounds.
“President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation.”
Onanuga added that the President is expected to notify the Senate about the appointment of a new Minister of Defence “later this week”.
The statement also linked Badaru’s resignation to the President’s ongoing national security agenda, stating, “His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.”
Badaru Abubakar, aged 63, previously served two terms as governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before being appointed Minister of Defence by President Tinubu on August 21, 2023.
