President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Directors-General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), marking a significant change in the leadership of Nigeria’s key intelligence agencies.
The appointments were announced in a statement released on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. According to the statement, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed has been named the new Director-General of the NIA, succeeding Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, who recently resigned.
Ambassador Mohammed’s career in the foreign service has been distinguished since he joined the NIA in 1995. His experience includes various roles, culminating in his promotion to Director and his most recent position as the head of Nigeria’s mission to Libya. A 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, Mohammed has served in multiple countries, including North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and within the State House in Abuja.
In a parallel move, President Tinubu has also appointed Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as the new Director-General of the DSS, replacing Yusuf Magaji Bichi. Ajayi, who previously held the position of Assistant Director-General of the DSS, has a wealth of experience from his time as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.
The President expressed confidence in the new appointees, stating that he expects them to “work assiduously to reposition the two intelligence agencies for better results.” Tinubu emphasized the importance of their experience in addressing the security challenges facing the country, urging them to enhance collaboration with other security agencies and align closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The statement also conveyed the President’s gratitude to the outgoing Directors-General for their service to the nation, wishing them success in their future endeavors.
