Insecurity: Can Ajayi and Mohammed Deliver as DSS, NIA Heads?

The Nigerian political landscape was shaken over the weekend when two of the longest-serving service chiefs in the last decade, Mr. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Mr. Y. M. Bichi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), resigned from their positions, citing personal and family reasons.

Their resignations marked the end of an era, as both were the last remaining service chiefs inherited by President Bola Tinubu from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Appointed in 2018, Abubakar and Bichi held similar responsibilities, with the DSS overseeing domestic intelligence and the NIA focusing on foreign intelligence and counterintelligence.

Bichi, from Kano State, became the second longest-serving DSS Director-General, holding the position for six years (September 14, 2018, to August 24, 2024), just two years shy of Col. Kayode Are’s record of eight years (May 1999 to August 2007). Similarly, Abubakar served as NIA Director-General for six and a half years (January 10, 2018 – August 24, 2024), making him the second longest-serving NIA chief after Mr. Uche Okeke, who also served for eight years (1999-2007).

President Tinubu faced increasing pressure to replace the service chiefs amid rising insecurity after taking office on May 29, 2023. He responded swiftly, appointing Malam Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser and changing other service chiefs, though Bichi and Abubakar remained in their roles until their recent resignations.

In the wake of their departures, President Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed as the new NIA Director-General and Adeola Ajayi as the new DSS head.

Mohammed, a seasoned foreign service officer, brings over two decades of experience, having served in various roles and countries, including North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and Libya. Meanwhile, Ajayi, who rose through the DSS ranks, has held leadership positions in states such as Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.

With these appointments, both Mohammed and Ajayi face immense challenges. As internal security issues escalate and threats from neighboring West African nations like Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, and Chad grow, Mohammed must act swiftly to address these concerns. Internally, Nigeria continues to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and Boko Haram insurgency, making it essential for Ajayi to introduce fresh strategies to combat these security threats effectively.