Minister of Defense, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has resigned from office with immediate effect.

This is contained in a press statement issued signed and made available to news men in the state house by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga,

In a letter dated December 1 and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former minister said he was stepping down on account of health challenges.

According to the statement “President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed appreciation for Badaru’s service to the nation since his appointment on August 21, 2023”.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy added that “The President is expected to forward the name of a new ministerial nominee to the Senate later in the week”.

Badaru, 63, a two-term governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023, exits the cabinet at a time the President has declared a national security emergency, with further details on its implementation expected soon.

The Presidency noted that Badaru’s contributions to defence and national security reforms during his tenure remain duly acknowledged.