President Bola Tinubu has publicly commended the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, for leading a significant transformation in how the security agency interacts with the media. This shift, from a history of hostility towards journalists to one of constructive engagement, has now been formally recognized by a leading press freedom organization.
IPI Nigeria Honors DSS Reforms
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI) presented a special commendation award to Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi during its annual conference in Abuja on December 2, 2025. The award ceremony highlighted the Director-General's efforts since his appointment in late August 2024.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President welcomed this honor. Tinubu views it as a validation of the ongoing reforms within the domestic intelligence agency under Mr. Ajayi's leadership.
A New Era of Engagement and Transparency
According to the citation from IPI Nigeria, Mr. Ajayi has shown a clear commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media houses. The institute stated that the award aims not only to acknowledge his progress but also to encourage him to do more and inspire other public officials and institutions to follow his example.
President Tinubu praised the DSS boss for upholding citizens' rights, moderating the agency's public engagements, and ensuring intelligence operations are conducted within legal boundaries. He noted that the DSS is actively shedding its old reputation, which was marred by the arrest, harassment, and intimidation of journalists.
Instead, the agency is now cultivating a new culture built on transparency, dialogue, and respect for constitutional guarantees of free speech and a free press.
A Call for Broader Security Sector Reform
The President used this occasion to urge other security and law enforcement agencies to learn from the DSS's "attitudinal shift." He stressed that in a democracy, security agencies must view the press as essential partners in ensuring accountability, not as adversaries to be neutralized.
Tinubu further charged the DSS leadership to maintain this momentum. He emphasized that the institution must continue to open its channels to public scrutiny while protecting the civic space where journalism can thrive. He firmly stated that the constitutional role of the press to question authority is not a nuisance but a vital democratic safeguard.
The President also outlined the critical work of IPI Nigeria, which includes documenting censorship, alerting authorities to the arbitrary detention of journalists, and challenging attacks on media houses. Through its global network, the institute ensures that domestic press freedom violations receive international attention.
To make reforms lasting, IPI Nigeria has established standing committees on press freedom, journalist safety, and media ethics. Its influence is growing, with 51 new members inducted this year, strengthening its advocacy. Beyond monitoring, the institute invests in training the next generation of reporters through programs like Smart Media Press, equipping them with skills in ethical reporting and public speaking.
The overarching message from this event is clear: opening doors to the press, when done properly, strengthens national security rather than undermining it.
