The Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, has officially resigned from his position.
Abubakar tendered his resignation after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu this evening, marking the end of his tenure as the head of Nigeria’s intelligence agency.
Speaking to State House reporters after the meeting, Abubakar described his resignation as a routine part of his duty to brief the President on national security matters. He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for allowing him to serve under his leadership.
“It’s a routine thing, from time to time, to brief Mr. President on situations, and today was no exception,” Abubakar stated.
“After the briefing today, I actually tendered my resignation, and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted it. I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for an extended period of 15 months, which is very rare—to serve two Presidents consecutively. I promised to remain professionally dedicated to our country and to noble causes.”
When asked about the reasons for his resignation, Abubakar cited personal and family matters, but assured that his decision was amicable and that his relationship with the President and the administration remains strong.
“There are quite a number of reasons one would do that, some personal family issues, but nothing very serious,” he explained.
“The friendship will continue. I discussed it with Mr. President, and he understood very well. I promise to remain engaged with issues and the security situation of the country.”
Regarding President Tinubu’s reaction to his resignation, Abubakar was cautious, noting that it was not his place to disclose the President’s response. However, he expressed deep gratitude for the confidence and support he received during his tenure.
“I think it’s not for me to say this, actually. I might be breaching protocol, but maybe the NSA or Mr. President himself will say it,” Abubakar said.
“What I can tell you is that I’m very, very grateful for the opportunity the President gave me to serve the country under his leadership, the encouragement I got, the confidence he had in me and in my service. This, for me, is everything.”
Abubakar, who has served as DG for seven years, highlighted the privilege of mentoring younger officers during his time at the NIA, noting that the agency is now equipped with capable individuals who can continue to excel in the role.
“This is the seventh year, by the way, and I’ve had the opportunity to mentor officers and staff throughout my tenure. We now have many officers who can do this job and do it excellently well,” he concluded.
The resignation of Ahmed Rufai Abubakar marks a significant transition within the NIA, as the agency prepares for new leadership in the wake of his departure.
