Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has officially stepped down as Nigeria’s Defence Minister, with his resignation taking immediate effect.
In a letter dated December 1, 2025, addressed to Bola Tinubu, Badaru cited health reasons for his decision to resign. The President accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude for Badaru’s service to the nation during a time of heightened security challenges.
Badaru, 63, previously served as the two-term governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023 before his appointment as Defence Minister on August 21, 2023.
His resignation comes shortly after the government declared a national security emergency — a development that has already triggered speculation about a major shake-up in the top security leadership.
President Tinubu is expected to formally notify the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week.
