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).
NewsNGR reports that this was made known in a statement on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
Tinubu appointed Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed as the new Director-General of the NIA.
Additionally, the President replaced the outgoing DSS Director-General, Abba Yusuf Bichi, with Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
The statement detailed Ambassador Mohammed’s distinguished career in the foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995. He has served in various capacities, including as the head of the Nigerian mission to Libya. A 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, Mohammed has also served in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and at the State House in Abuja.
Mr. Adeola Ajayi, the newly appointed DSS Director-General, rose through the ranks to his previous position as Assistant Director-General of the Service. His experience includes serving as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.
The appointments follow the resignation of the former NIA and DSS chiefs. President Tinubu expressed his expectation that the new leaders will work diligently to reposition the two intelligence agencies for improved results. He urged them to leverage their experience in addressing the country’s security challenges through enhanced collaboration with sister agencies and alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The President also extended his gratitude to the outgoing Directors-General for their service to the nation and wished them success in their future endeavors.