Shake Ups as President Tinubu Appoints New Chiefs for NIA, DSS 

President Bola Tinubu on Monday, 26th June 2024 announced the appointments of Mohammed Mohammed as the new Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS). These appointments follow the resignations of Ahmed Abubakar, the former NIA Director-General, and Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the DSS Director-General.

The DSS, established in June 1986, is responsible for domestic intelligence and counterintelligence, focusing on neutralizing internal threats, enforcing criminal law, and safeguarding senior government officials, including the president. The NIA, on the other hand, handles foreign intelligence and counterintelligence, concentrating on external threats to Nigeria’s national interests.

President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, conveyed the President’s expectations for the new appointees stating that “President Tinubu anticipates that the new security chiefs will diligently work to enhance the effectiveness of the two intelligence agencies. They are charged with leveraging their experience to address Nigeria’s security challenges through improved collaboration with sister agencies and alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).”

The appointments come at a critical time as Nigeria grapples with escalating security issues. Last week, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, the Sarkin Gobir of Gatawa District in Sokoto State, was brutally murdered by terrorists after a ransom delay, and while the residents were still mourning, the terrorists invaded the community again, kidnapping over 150 people. Professor Bello Bada in an interview highlighted the increasing severity of terrorism in the region, noting several near-fatal attacks on prominent figures.

“The bandits had made a similar attempt on the life of the Emir of Potiskum while he was on the way to Zaria but he narrowly escaped. The Emir of Kauran Namoda escaped death by whiskers, but the bandits killed members of his entourage.,”

The New NIA Director-General Mohammed Mohammed has been with the agency since 1995, serving in various roles including as head of the Nigerian Mission to Libya. His diplomatic experience includes postings to North Korea, Pakistan, and Sudan, as well as a stint at State House in Abuja. DSS’ new Director-General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, also an agency insider, has risen through the ranks from Assistant Director-General to his current position. His previous roles include serving as DSS director in several states, including Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.

The new heads of Nigeria’s intelligence agencies face an arduous task. Their foremost task will be to address the severe security crisis, particularly in the North. Northern Nigeria has been the epicenter of unabated insurgency. These attacks have displaced many and also disrupted agricultural activities, severely affecting food production and exacerbating the food crisis,  leading to a ten-day protest earlier this month. This protest highlighted the deteriorating state of food security and criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its perceived governance failures.

The new intelligence chiefs will also navigate their jobs fraught with complex issues. Their ability to restore security and stability will be under intense scrutiny, and their actions are expected to involve significant risks, including potentially controversial arrests and interventions.

Notorious bandit kingpin Turji Bello recently released a video accusing Tinubu’s Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle, of sponsoring terrorism. The intelligence chiefs will have to address such claims and restore public confidence in their agencies.

Under the previous leadership, the DSS faced criticism for being perceived as a tool of political oppression with the belief that the agency had been misused for political purposes rather than focusing on its core mandate of national security. Reports of DSS personnel engaging in acts of intimidation and bullying further tainted the agency’s reputation. 

The new leadership of the NIA and DSS is saddled with tackling these issues head-on, working to regain public trust in their agencies. They will need to implement reforms, enhance operational effectiveness, and demonstrate their commitment to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges. The task at hand is not limited to tackling immediate threats but also about restoring the integrity and credibility of the intelligence services at a time of national crisis.

As the new heads of the NIA and DSS begin their journeys, they will need to navigate complex security challenges and address criticisms while striving to enhance the operational effectiveness of their respective agencies.