By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
In a move hailed as a significant boost to national security, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has been hailed for appointing Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, MON, as the new Director General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS).
The appointment has been widely praised, with many experts noting Ajayi’s impressive track record in intelligence gathering and security management.
Reading the text of the briefing on behalf of the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), its President, Ahmed Mohammed Zagi, highlighted Ajayi’s qualifications, experience, and achievements, stating, “Ajayi is a thoroughbred and versatile security officer, recruited into the service in 1990 as a cadet officer.
“He is diligent, resilient, genteel, proactive, and analytic.” Zagi emphasized that Ajayi’s appointment is a “golden decision” to mitigate insecurity in the country, particularly in the North-Western region.
Ajayi brings over three decades of experience to his new role, having served in various capacities within the DSS, including Director of Operations.
His leadership has been marked by strategic reforms and efforts to enhance the agency’s effectiveness in addressing contemporary security challenges.
Read the full text of the statement below:
APPOINTMENT OF MR. ADEOLA OLUWATOSIN AJAYI, MON, AS DIRECTOR GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF STATE SECURITY SERVICE (DSS): A GOLDEN DECISION TO MITIGATE INSECURITY
Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), the Premier umbrella platform of all Youth organisations in the North and FCT-Abuja, which has structures in the Nineteen Northern States, some Southern States, the FCT and the Diaspora, wish to commend His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for the recent well deserved appointment of a Son of the Soil, Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, MON as the new Director General, Department of Security Service (DSS), coming at this critical time of our status as a sovereign Nation.
As an Organisation that champions the course of good governance through close monitoring of National issues, we are duty bound to voice out our position regarding this golden appointment, which we firmly believe will go a long way to mitigate the ongoing security challenges in the country and especially the North-Western part of Nigeria.
For those of us who have known Mr. Ajayi over the years, we are bold to say that he is thoroughbred and versatile security officer, recruited into the service in 1990 as a cadet officer. As part of the officer’s career development provision of the Security Department, he has received several trainings in diverse areas of Management, Security Leadership, and Critical Thinking, Human Resources among others from within and outside the Country. On a further note, he is diligent, resilient, genteel, proactive and analytic. He has therefore comes to his new position and role with the desired wealth of experience, capacity and immense goodwill.
It is pertinent to note that the DSS’s primary responsibilities in Nigeria, and includes counter-intelligence, medical intelligence, economic intelligence, internal security, counter-terrorism, and surveillance, as well as investigating many forms of significant offences against the state. The new DG therefore is ever ready to deliver on this mandate.
To sum it up, he is a crack senior operative who has delivered on many sensitive operations and paid his dues to head the DSS for the following reasons:
1. Experienced Intelligence Officer
As the new DG, Mr. Ajayi brings over three decades of experience in intelligence gathering and security management to his new role. His tenure in the DSS has seen him rise through the ranks due to his dedication and sharp insight in handling national security matters.
2. Proven Leadership
Before his appointment, Ajayi held several key positions within the DSS, including the Director of Operations. His leadership has been marked by strategic reforms and efforts to enhance the agency’s effectiveness in addressing contemporary security challenges.
3. Foreign Experience in Intelligence
Known for his diligence and analytical approach, Ajayi has received various training in Nigeria and abroad, equipping him with the skills needed for his new role.
4. Focus on Collaboration
Ajayi has been instrumental in fostering better cooperation between the DSS and other security agencies, as proven by his stint in other states he has served. He believes inter-agency collaboration is crucial for addressing Nigeria’s complex security landscape.
5. Task for DSS
Ajayi has been committed to strengthening the DSS’s capacity to pre-empt and counter threats. He has been saddled with visionary tasks, including embracing technology—and intelligence-driven strategies to ensure national security and stability. His track records in the States he served speaks volume. For instance, when he was the Director in the States of Bauchi and Kogi respectively, he worked tirelessly to ensure and mitigate insecurity challenges in those environments.
On a final note, we at Arewa Youth Forum firmly believe that the new DSS DG, Ajayi is poised to play a pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s national security and maintaining stability in the country.
We are therefore wishing him well and assuring him of our readiness to cooperate and support the activities of his Office. In the same vein, we are calling on all Nigerians at home and abroad to do so for the progress and development of our Nation.
Thank you all.
Ahmed Mohammed Zagi, FNY
President
Arewa Youth Forum
