Tinubu Replaces Bichi with Adeola as SSS DG, Mohammed Takes Helm at NIA

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new directors-general for Nigeria’s key intelligence agencies, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed has been appointed as the new Director-General of the NIA, while Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi will now lead the DSS.

Ambassador Mohammed, a seasoned diplomat, began his career with the NIA in 1995. Over the years, he has served in various capacities, both within Nigeria and abroad, including in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and the State House in Abuja. Most recently, he served as the head of Nigeria’s mission in Libya. Ambassador Mohammed is a 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano.

Mr. Adeola Ajayi, the new DSS Director-General, has had a distinguished career within the agency, rising through the ranks to become an Assistant Director-General. He has held key positions across several states, including Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi, where he served as State Director.

The appointments come following the resignation of the previous heads of the NIA and DSS. President Tinubu has tasked the newly appointed chiefs with the responsibility of repositioning their respective agencies to better address Nigeria’s security challenges. He emphasized the importance of enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

President Tinubu also expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Directors-General for their service to the nation and wished them success in their future endeavors.