Oluwatosin Ajayi: I Changed the DSS Culture from Fear to Accountability

Oluwatosin Ajayi says he opened the doors of Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency to the media because the relationship between security officials and journalists needed to improve.

The Director-General of the Department of State Services made the comments as the agency marked its 40th anniversary. He said intelligence organizations do not usually hold public celebrations, and that the national mood did not call for elaborate festivities. Most commemorations, he added, take place internally.

Ajayi described himself as a product of the service. He joined as a cadet officer, rose through its ranks, and said his work over the past two years has built on the achievements of previous administrations while addressing weaknesses and strengthening existing capabilities.

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I changed my mind to encourage an improved relationship between the media and security in Nigeria.

His stated priorities include strict law enforcement, cooperation between agencies, accountability, respect for human rights, and infrastructure modernization. The interview description says the DSS has paid more than 300 million naira in compensation to victims of operational errors, obtained death sentences and life imprisonment for terrorism suspects, and recorded its lowest level of malpractice in eight years.

Ajayi also highlighted a people-focused approach to intelligence work, including recruiting orphans as human intelligence assets and creating creches for female employees. He said greater contact with the press can help security organizations explain threats and build public trust, citing public briefings by the FBI director and annual speeches by the head of MI6 as international examples.

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Intelligence organisations are not disposed to public fanfare.