Public affairs analyst Comrade Usman Okai Austin has described the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, as the most professional security chief to have led Nigeria's secret service, citing a series of operational and institutional changes under his tenure. In a statement issued in Abuja, Okai credited Ajayi with steering the DSS away from public confrontations towards a quieter, intelligence-first approach to managing security threats.
Key Changes Under Ajayi's Leadership
Okai highlighted several notable gains since Ajayi took charge. These include a greater emphasis on covert operations designed to neutralise threats before they escalate into public crises, stronger collaboration with the military, the Nigeria Police Force, and international security partners on cross-border threats, and the adoption of modern technology to counter digital threats and attacks on critical infrastructure.
“Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi stands out as a thoroughbred professional security strategist,” Okai said. “Under his leadership, the DSS is rebuilding public trust by prioritising intelligence gathering, operational discretion, and respect for the rule of law.”
Rebuilding Trust and Professionalism
The analyst also noted improvements in staff welfare, officer training, and a complete halt to what he described as arbitrary arrests and detentions. These moves, he said, have earned the DSS chief recognition both within Nigeria and internationally.
Okai argued that effective security management depends on experienced insiders rather than political appointees unfamiliar with how intelligence agencies operate. He pointed to Ajayi's career trajectory as evidence of that principle in practice.
“Ajayi rose through the ranks, and that background shows in his leadership,” Okai said. “He has kept the agency out of politics and restored its standing as an elite intelligence body focused entirely on national security.”
Call for Sustained Focus on National Security
Okai called on Ajayi to sustain the current approach, saying a disciplined, low-profile intelligence service remains Nigeria's strongest defence against internal security threats.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the DSS DG told operatives of the agency to stop making arrests in civil matters, saying force has no place in such disputes. Ajayi made the declaration during a media interview on Thursday, September 3, framing the directive as part of a broader effort to strengthen the agency's commitment to the rule of law and improve its human rights record. Since taking office, Ajayi said he has pushed reforms in five broad areas: law enforcement, inter-agency collaboration, accountability, human rights, and administrative improvements meant to boost operational efficiency.
