Tinubu appoints ex-DSS DG Yusuf Bichi NISS Governing Board Chairman

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja.

The appointment, which takes effect from October 22, 2026, is for an initial four-year term in accordance with Section 4 of the National Institute for Security Studies (Establishment) Act, 2019.

The development was announced in a statement signed by Lilian Omo-Odigwe, Director of Coordination and Liaison at the NISS.

According to the statement, Bichi’s appointment was approved by President Tinubu following a recommendation by the incumbent Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.

Bichi succeeds A.A. Gadzama, OFR, mni, as chairman of the institute’s Governing Board, bringing decades of experience in intelligence gathering, security administration, operational leadership and institutional development to the position.

The former DSS chief handed over the leadership of the secret service to Ajayi in August 2024, following his tenure as head of Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency.

Bichi began his career in the Security Division of the Kano State Cabinet Office before his transfer of service in 1984, marking the beginning of a long career in security and intelligence operations.

His appointment comes at a time when effective intelligence coordination, professional security training and institutional capacity-building remain critical to Nigeria’s national security architecture.

The National Institute for Security Studies, located at Lower Usuma Dam, Abuja, is a specialised institution focused on advanced security studies, professional development and strategic capacity-building for security and related public-sector personnel.

As chairman of its Governing Board, Bichi is expected to bring his wealth of experience to the institute’s strategic direction and governance, particularly in strengthening professional training and developing leadership capacity to address emerging security challenges.

His appointment also underscores the importance of experienced security practitioners in shaping the policies and institutions responsible for preparing Nigeria’s security leadership for evolving national and regional threats.