5 Things to Know About New DSS DG, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu effected a change in the country's security architecture on Monday, August 26
- After six years in charge, Kano-born Yusuf Bichi was replaced as the DSS boss, with Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi coming in
- Legit.ng reports that Ajayi is not new to the terrain as he has been with the DSS for well over 30 years
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FCT, Abuja - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, August 26, appointed Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as the director-general (DG) of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Ajayi replaces Yusuf Bichi, an appointee of former president Muhammadu Buhari, who took over the mantle of leadership in 2018.
Source: Twitter
The presidency said Ajayi's appointment marks a key leadership change in Nigeria's primary domestic intelligence agency, which plays a critical role in national security and intelligence gathering.
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As the new head of the DSS, Ajayi is expected to bring fresh perspectives and strategies to the secret police's operations, focusing on enhancing internal security and addressing existing and emerging threats across the country.
President Tinubu expects that the new security chief will work professionally to reposition the intelligence agency for better output.
The Nigerian leader charged Ogun-born Ajayi to bring his 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).
Who is Adeola Ajayi? Legit.ng spotlights the new DSS boss.
1) Assistant DSS DG
The new DSS DG rose through the ranks to attain his current post of assistant DG of the service.
2) Former DSS boss at state level
Ajayi had—at various times—served as state director in Enugu, Rivers, Bauchi, Kogi, and Bayelsa states.
3) Joined DSS in 1990
Ajayi was recruited into the service in 1990 as a cadet officer.
He joined four years after the agency was created.
4) Adeola Ajayi: Touted as analytic
According to Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, Ajayi is diligent, resilient, urbane, proactive and analytic.
Afunanya said in a statement:
"He (Ajayi) comes to his new position with experience, capacity and immense goodwill."
5) Trained in Nigeria and internationally
The new DG has received several trainings in diverse areas of management, security leadership, critical thinking, and human resources among others.
He received the training from within and outside Nigeria.
What is the DSS' main duty?
The DSS' main responsibilities are within Nigeria and include counter-intelligence, medical intelligence, economic intelligence, internal security, counter-terrorism, and surveillance as well as investigating some other types of serious crimes against the state.
It is also charged with the protection of senior government officials, particularly the president, vice president, state governors and visiting heads of state and governments with their respective families.
Read more on DSS
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- DSS arrests Journalist, Soyinka, in Lagos
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- DSS bans certain protests on Democracy Day
DSS storms Cross River house of assembly
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that fierce-looking operatives of the DSS, men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and other security agents, stormed the crisis-hit Cross River state assembly complex.
This was after the impeachment of the assembly’s speaker, Elvert Anyambem, led to a brawl in the house.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
