President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the appointment of new directors-general for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
He picked ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, a seasoned Foreign Service officer, to take charge of the NIA, while Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, a veteran intelligence operative, leads the DSS.
Ambassador Mohammed, a 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, brings extensive experience gained from serving in various roles, including heads of Nigerian missions in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and Libya.
Mr. Ajayi, a decorated Assistant Director-General, has served as State Director in several states, including Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.
A statement issued on Monday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the new appointments followed the resignation of the previous NIA and DSS chiefs.
President Tinubu charges the new security chiefs to reposition the agencies for better results, tackling security challenges through enhanced collaboration with sister agencies and alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The President has expressed gratitude to the outgoing Directors-General for their services and wishes them success in their future endeavours.
“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.
“Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi is the new Director-General of the DSS.
“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 attain his current post of Assistant Director-General of the Service. He had, at various times, served as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.
“The new appointments follow the resignation of the previous NIA and DSS chiefs.
“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 thanks the outgoing director-general of the two pivotal intelligence agencies for their services to the nation while wishing them success in their future endeavours”, the statement.
