Folashade Adekaiyaoja Appointed DSS Deputy DG in Historic Move
In a historic move aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Department of State Services (DSS), President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Folashade Adekaiyaoja as the Deputy Director General of the agency.
This is the first time such an approval has been granted by any Nigerian President, marking a significant step in the restructuring of the DSS to improve its operational capabilities.
The appointment, which aligns with the original organogram of the Service, seeks to revise the DSS’s structure, ensuring better efficiency in the discharge of its duties.
According to sources, the DSS has always been structured to include three Deputy Directors General, and Adekaiyaoja’s appointment is in line with this long-standing framework.
The ratification of Adekaiyaoja’s appointment was based on the recommendation of the DSS Director-General, Mr. Oluwastosin Ajayi, through the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
It is said to be unprecedented in the history of the agency, adhering to its extant regulations.
Adekaiyaoja, a native of Kogi State, has received widespread support from officers and operatives within the DSS, who view her as highly qualified for the role.
Her appointment is seen as a move that will enhance career progression within the agency, and it is widely believed that this decision will help streamline operations and strengthen the DSS’s capacity to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
This appointment comes in the wake of President Tinubu’s commitment to improving the security of life and property in Nigeria.
During his investiture speech at the National Institute for Security Studies Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 graduation in December 2024, the President pledged to equip the DSS and other security agencies with Artificial Intelligence-powered tools to combat the nation’s security issues more effectively.
President Tinubu further tasked heads of security agencies to submit proposals for enhancing their service delivery, a move that directly led to the approval of Adekaiyaoja’s appointment.
DSS Director-General, Mr. Ajayi, who assumed office in August 2024, has also outlined plans for sweeping reforms within the agency.
These reforms aim to transform the DSS into one of the world’s most efficient covert security agencies, which he believes will play a pivotal role in ensuring national security.
Adekaiyaoja’s appointment represents a pivotal step towards reshaping Nigeria’s security landscape and is expected to bolster the DSS’s operational effectiveness in addressing the country’s security challenges.