Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from office with immediate effect, citing health concerns, according to an official letter submitted to President Bola Tinubu on December 1.
In the letter, Abubakar informed the president that he could “no longer continue to serve at the required pace due to health challenges,” prompting his decision to step down. President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude for the minister’s service.
“President Tinubu thanks Alhaji Abubakar for his dedication and contributions to national security, and he wishes him a full and speedy recovery,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement on Monday.
The president is expected to notify the Senate of a successor later this week as the administration moves quickly to fill the strategic position.
Abubakar, 63, previously served two terms as governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before being appointed Minister of Defence on August 21, 2023. His departure comes at a sensitive moment for the government, which recently declared a national security emergency.
According to the presidency, Tinubu will “brief the nation in due course” on the scope and implementation of the emergency measures.
