President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), succeeding Yusuf Magaji Bichi, who resigned prior to this appointment.
Ajayi was previously an Assistant Director-General who has an extensive experience within the DSS and has served as State Director in several states including Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.
The Department of State Services was established in 1948 and was initially known as the Nigerian Security Organization (NSO) following Decree No. 16 in 1976. It later undergo several transformation after it got restructured by General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration in 1986 which resulted to the formation of the State Security Service (SSS), the Defence Intelligence Service (DIS), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Yusuf Magaji Bichi was born on February 23, 1956, in Bichi, Kano State where he served as the DSS DG from September 2018 until his recent resignation. He is a graduate of the National Defence College and a Fellow of the War College in 2007.
Matthew Seiyefa was appointed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in August 2018, where he served briefly after the dismissal of Lawal Daura.
Lawal Musa Daura was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2015 and served until August 2018. He was born on August 5, 1953, in Daura, Katsina State.
Ekpeyong was the DSS DG from September 2010 until his dismissal in July 2015. He was the first director of the Institute of Security Studies in Abuja.
Afakriya Gadzama served the DSS from August 2007 to September 2010 under former President Umaru Yar'Adua. He was born on November 22, 1953, in Borno State.
He was appointed by Olusegun Obasanjo, Are led the DSS from May 1999 to August 2007.
Nwaoduah served from October 1992 to June 1999 making him one of the longest-serving directors-general.
The first director of the National Intelligence Agency and second director of the State Security Service, Horsfall served from September 1990 to October 1992.
Gwarzo was appointed as the first Director-General of the SSS in June 1986 and had a long career in various capacities before and after his retirement.