By Ghazali Ibrahim
The federal government has announced that Muhammed Badaru Abubakar has resigned as Minister of Defence, with immediate effect.
The move has been officially ratified by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, December 1, 2025.
In a letter dated December 1 and addressed to the president, Badaru cited health reasons for stepping down after more than two years in the role, having served since August 2023.
A statement from the Presidency, signed by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu accepted the resignation and thanked Badaru for his service during a “challenging period for national security.”
The president is expected to propose a successor to the Senate later this week, as required by law.
Badaru’s tenure coincided with intensified military operations against insurgents, bandits, and criminal networks across the country including recent government efforts under a declared national security emergency.
His departure comes at a critical juncture as the government seeks to overhaul its security architecture and implement fresh strategies to curb rising insecurity after successive waves of violence, kidnappings, and insurgency-related threats.
The resignation marks the first major exit from President Tinubu’s national security team in recent months and sets the stage for a possible reshuffle in the defence ministry.
