Sources close to the presidency reveal that the shake-up was prompted by the troubling seizure of Nigerian assets by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese firm.
President Tinubu was reportedly outraged by the security failure that allowed this situation to occur, viewing it as a significant lapse on the part of the intelligence agencies.
Yusuf Bichi, the former DSS DG, faced accusations of insubordination towards the National Security Adviser (NSA), which further fueled the decision for a leadership change. BusinessDay sources indicate that President Tinubu was dissatisfied with the quality of intelligence and security reports received in his office.
As a result, Mohamed Mohammed has been appointed as the new Director-General of the NIA, and Adeola Ajayi has been named as the new DG of DSS. Reports suggest that Rufai resigned after being questioned about the security failures that led to Nigeria’s lack of timely information on legal proceedings abroad, which contributed to the asset seizures.
In announcing the new appointments, President Tinubu emphasized his expectations for the new security chiefs to enhance the performance of the intelligence agencies and improve coordination with other security bodies under the NSA’s oversight. These changes are part of President Tinubu’s broader initiative to revamp Nigeria’s security framework and address the country’s various security challenges.