Tinubu appoints new NIA, DSS directors-general

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new directors-general of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, and the Department of State Services, DSS.

Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed is the new Director-General of the NIA, while Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi is the new Director-General of the DSS.

Mohammed succeeds Ahmed Abubakar, who resigned from his position as the NIA Director-General on Saturday night.

For the DSS, Ajayi replaces Yusuf Bichi, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Ngelale noted that the appointments followed the resignation of the previous heads of the two agencies.

According to the statement: “President Tinubu has charged the new security chiefs to work together to reposition the agencies for better results, tackle security challenges, and enhance collaboration with sister agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“The President has also thanked the outgoing Directors-General for their service to the nation and wished them success in their future endeavours.”

Mohammed, Ajayi

The new NIA DG, Ambassador Mohammed, has had an illustrious career in the foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995.

He had served in various roles, culminating in his promotion to the rank of director and his subsequent appointment as the head of the Nigerian Mission to Libya.

The 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, had served in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and at the State House, Abuja.The new DSS Director-General, Mr. Adeola 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.