President Bola Tinubu has announced new Directors-General for Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed will take over as Director-General of the NIA, succeeding Rufai Abubakar. Meanwhile, Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi has been appointed as the new Director-General of the DSS.
The appointments were revealed in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, on August 26, 2024.
President Tinubu anticipates that the new leaders will enhance the effectiveness of the two intelligence agencies. He has called on them to apply their experience in addressing the nation’s security challenges through improved cooperation with related agencies and alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“The President extends his gratitude to the outgoing Directors-General for their service and wishes them success in their future endeavors,” the statement noted.
Profile of the New Appointees
Ambassador Mohammed boasts a distinguished career in the foreign service, having joined the NIA in 1995. His roles have included Director and head of the Nigerian mission to Libya. A 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, he has served in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and the State House, Abuja.
Mr. Adeola Ajayi, the new DSS Director-General, has risen through the ranks to become Assistant Director-General. His previous roles include State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.