Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from office, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Onanuga confirmed that the resignation was submitted in a letter dated December 1 and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In the letter, Abubakar reportedly cited health reasons for his decision to step down.

President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed appreciation for the minister’s service to the nation. The President is expected to formally communicate Abubakar’s replacement to the Senate later this week.

Badaru Abubakar, 63, served as Governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before being appointed Defence Minister on August 21, 2023. His exit comes at a time the President has declared a national security emergency, with details of the new security framework expected to be announced soon.

Nigeria has in recent months experienced a surge in insecurity, including abductions and killings across several states. Earlier on Friday, President Tinubu met with the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, though it is unclear whether the meeting was connected to developments in the Defence Ministry.

Abubakar’s resignation marks another significant shift within the country’s security leadership as the government moves to strengthen national defence operations.