Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has stepped down from his position, ending his service abruptly on health grounds.

The minister’s resignation was contained in a letter submitted to President Bola Tinubu and dated Monday, December 1.

Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a statement shared on X, noting that the minister cited health-related challenges as the reason for his sudden exit.

Badaru, 63, previously served two terms as governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before joining President Tinubu’s cabinet in August 2023 as the Defence Minister.

According to the statement, President Tinubu has accepted his resignation and expressed appreciation for Badaru’s contributions while in office.

The President is expected to forward the name of a new Defence Minister to the Senate before the end of the week.

Badaru’s resignation comes at a sensitive moment, following President Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national security emergency, with further details expected soon.