President Bola Tinubu has appointed Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), replacing Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity made the announcement on Monday. Ajayi, formerly the Assistant Director-General, has held key roles as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.

In a simultaneous move, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed has been appointed as the new Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), taking over from Ahmed Abubakar, who resigned over the weekend. Mohammed, a seasoned diplomat and a 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, has extensive experience with the NIA since 1995, having served in significant roles in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and Libya.

These appointments are part of a broader security reshuffle following the resignations of the former DSS and NIA chiefs. Chief Ngelale noted that President Tinubu expects the new leaders to enhance the effectiveness of their agencies, emphasizing the importance of improved coordination with other security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

President Tinubu expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Directors-General for their contributions and wished them success in their future endeavors. He also conveyed his confidence in the new appointees’ capabilities to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges and deliver better outcomes.