Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has tendered his resignation, effective immediately.

 In a letter dated December 1 and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former minister disclosed that he was stepping aside due to health-related reasons.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed appreciation for Abubakar’s service and commitment to the nation’s security sector.

 The President is expected to notify the Senate of a replacement before the end of the week.

 Badaru, 63, served two terms as Governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before being appointed Defence Minister on August 21, 2023. His exit comes at a critical moment, as President Tinubu recently declared a national security emergency and is expected to unveil further details on the government’s response strategy in the coming days.