
DSS gets first female Deputy DG
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Folashade Arinola Adekaiyaoja as the first female to hold the position of Deputy Director-General (DDG) at the Department of State Services (DSS).
Sources within the DSS disclosed that the agency is traditionally structured to include three Deputy Directors-General, making Adekaiyaoja’s appointment both unprecedented and crucial for the agency’s future direction.
The approval was granted based on a recommendation from the DSS Director-General, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
“It is in accordance with the agency’s regulations and represents a significant departure from the norm in the history of the DSS,” a source close to the matter revealed.
Adekaiyaoja, a distinguished native of Kogi State, is widely known by her colleagues for her outstanding qualifications and exceptional professionalism.
Her appointment has been welcomed by a cross-section of serving and retired DSS officers who believe her leadership will further strengthen the agency’s capabilities.
In line with this, Tinubu had, during a December 2024 ceremony at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), reiterated his commitment to supporting the DSS and other security agencies with state-of-the-art, Artificial Intelligence-powered technology to combat insecurity.
He emphasised the need for inter-agency collaboration to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges, a message echoed by the NSA.
Ajayi, who assumed office in late August 2024, has already promised sweeping reforms aimed at improving the agency’s operations and increasing its international standing.
The appointment and ratification by the President was based on the recommendation of the DG, through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
“It is line with its extant regulations and unprecedented in the history of the Secret Service,” a source said.
The appointment of Adekaiyaoja, a native of Kogi state was celebrated by a cross section of officers and operatives who see her as eminently qualified for the position.
It was further gathered that President Tinubu had in line with his promise to improve on the security of life and property of Nigerians, tasked the heads of security agencies to come up with proposals on how to improve on their service delivery.
“It was on this note that the President approved the DG’s recommendation, which many serving and retired officers are confident would boost career progression in the Service,” the source said.
President Tinubu had at the investiture ceremony of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 graduates last December, promised to support the DSS and other security agencies with Artificial Intelligence-powered state-of-the-art equipment to combat insecurity across the country.
Speaking through the NSA, the president stated that he was not oblivious of the security challenges in contemporary times, and charged all security agencies to synergise for the common good of Nigerians.