Folashade Arinola Adekaiyaoja has been appointed as the Deputy Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), by President Bola Tinubu.

This marks the first presidential approval in the history of the service.

The decision has been widely commended by both serving and retired DSS officers, who view it as a move to restore professionalism and efficiency within the agency.

The appointment aligns with the agency’s original structure, which comprises three Deputy Directors General, a hierarchy designed for improved operational efficiency. The decision, reportedly based on the recommendation of DSS Director-General Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi through the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has been described by insiders as a significant step toward boosting career progression within the service.

Adekaiyaoja, a native of Kogi State, is being celebrated across the agency as a highly qualified and deserving appointee for the position. Her elevation is seen as a reflection of President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to reform the nation’s security architecture for better service delivery.

The president had previously directed security agency heads to propose strategies for enhancing their operations, emphasizing professionalism and service improvement. According to a security source, Tinubu’s approval of Adekaiyaoja’s appointment was in response to this directive and is expected to significantly enhance morale and operational effectiveness within the DSS.

During the investiture ceremony of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 graduates last December, President Tinubu reiterated his commitment to supporting security agencies, including the DSS, with cutting-edge, artificial intelligence-powered equipment to combat insecurity across Nigeria. Speaking through the NSA, he emphasized the need for inter-agency cooperation to address contemporary security challenges.

DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi, who assumed office in August 2024, had pledged sweeping reforms to transform the DSS into one of the world’s most efficient covert security agencies. This latest appointment of Adekaiyaoja appears to be a significant step in line with that vision.