Key Points
- Defence minister Mohammed Badaru resigns from office with immediate effect. He says health worries led to his choice in December.
- Tinubu accepts his exit and thanks him for past service. The president plans to tell the Senate about a new nominee.
- Badaru once served two terms as Jigawa State governor. His exit comes as Tinubu declares a fresh security emergency.
Nigeria’s defence minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has resigned from office immediately. He says health concerns forced his decision in a letter. The note went to President Bola Tinubu on first December.
Tinubu has accepted the move and thanked Badaru for his work. The president will brief the Senate on his next choice this week. Badaru drew focus after our Badaru defends naval officer clash report from Abuja.
Why Badaru says he is stepping down
In his letter, Badaru told the president he must step back. He said doctors advised him to slow down due to health. The message framed the move as a painful, yet needed, choice.
The note says his exit starts at once from today. State House did not name an acting defence chief for now. More details are expected when Tinubu sends the formal notice to senators.
Badaru, sixty three, once served as Jigawa State governor for two terms. He held the job from 2015 till 2023 under the APC flag. Tinubu then named him defence minister in August twenty twenty three.
Tinubu accepts move as security plan unfolds
The exit comes days after Tinubu declared a new security push. He now calls the fight against crime a fresh emergency. He is expected to share clear plans on its reach in coming days.
Across Nigeria, leaders face fresh worry over raids, kidnap and unrest. In Niger State, our Niger governor shuts schools security report showed all schools closed. Tinubu has linked such acts to his push for deeper security reform.
Lawmakers are likely to press for a quick, clear handover at defence. Some will want proof that the change will not slow key plans. Others may push Tinubu to pick a fresh face from outside his party bloc.
What this could mean for defence policy
Badaru leaves as troops tackle strong gangs, kidnap rings and oil theft. Recent weeks saw Zamfara rescue raid report and other crackdowns across the north. Policy watchers say a new minister must keep those efforts steady.
For now, the key question is who will take charge of defence. Tinubu’s choice will signal how he wants to drive his wider security push. Many Nigerians will watch both the next name and Badaru’s recovery path
