Tinubu Appoints New Heads for NIA and DSS

President Bola Tinubu has made significant changes in Nigeria’s security apparatus by appointing Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi and Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), respectively.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced these critical appointments in a statement on Monday. The appointments come in the wake of the recent resignation of the previous heads of the DSS and NIA, marking a new chapter for Nigeria’s intelligence community.

Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi succeeds Yusuf Magaji Bichi, who has served as DSS Director-General since his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018. Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed replaces Rufai-Abubakar, who recently stepped down as the NIA Director-General.

Amb. Mohammed Mohammed brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having had an illustrious career in Nigeria’s foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995. His extensive diplomatic background includes service in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and at the State House in Abuja. Mohammed, a 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, was most recently the head of the Nigerian mission to Libya, following his promotion to the rank of Director.

Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, on the other hand, has risen through the ranks within the DSS, reaching the position of Assistant Director-General before his recent appointment. Ajayi’s career includes significant leadership roles as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi, showcasing his extensive field experience.

“Ajayi is the new DG of DSS, while Mohammed is the new DG of NIA,” Ngelale confirmed in the statement. “These appointments are part of President Tinubu’s strategic move to enhance the effectiveness of Nigeria’s intelligence agencies.”

President Tinubu has expressed his confidence in the capabilities of the newly appointed security chiefs, urging them to leverage their vast experience to tackle the nation’s security challenges. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with sister agencies and alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to achieve better results.

In his statement, the President also extended his gratitude to the outgoing Directors-General for their dedicated service to the nation and wished them success in their future endeavors.

This transition marks a significant step in President Tinubu’s administration, aimed at fortifying Nigeria’s intelligence framework and addressing the country’s evolving security needs.