Victor Ezeja
President Bola Tinubu has appointed new Directors-General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
This was announced in a statement by Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday, 26th August 2024.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to Ngelale, the new Directors-General are Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, NIA; and Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, DSS.
Ambassador Mohammed
Ambassador Mohammed has spent almost three decades in the foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995.
He had served in various capacities, rising to the rank of Director and his subsequent appointment as the head of the Nigerian mission to Libya.
He had also served in Nigerian missions in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and at the State House, Abuja.
The diplomat, who hails from Lafiagi in Kwara State, was until his appointment, the head of the Nigerian mission to Sudan.
Mohammed is a graduate of Bayero University, Kano.
His appointment followed the resignation of Ahmad Rufai Abubakar. The former NIA DG, who tendered his resignation on Saturday, 24 August, 2024 was appointed in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who extended his stay in office in December 2021.
Oluwatosin Ajayi
The new DSS Director-General, Mr. Ajayi, rose through the ranks to become Assistant Director-General of the Service. He had at various times, served as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.
He replaces Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
Ajayi joined the Service in 1990 as a cadet officer.
A statement by the DSS described Ajayi “as a thoroughbred and versatile Intelligence Officer” who has received several trainings in areas of management, security leadership, critical thinking, human resources among others from within and outside the country.
“Mr Ajayi is diligent, resilient, urbane, proactive and analytic. He comes to his new position with experience, capacity and immense goodwill.
“While wishing the outgone DGSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi CFR fwc success in his future endeavours, Management and Staff of the Service welcome the new DG and assure him of their cooperation, support and loyalty,” the statement signed by DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya said.
According to Ngelale, President Tinubu “expects that the new security chiefs will work assiduously to reposition the two intelligence agencies for better results and charges them to bring their experience to bear in tackling the security challenges bedevilling the country through enhanced collaboration with sister agencies and in surgical alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).”
The President thanked the outgoing Directors-General of the two intelligence agencies for their services to the nation while wishing them success in their future endeavours.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
