President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, on his recognition as a champion of press freedom by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI).
Mr. Ajayi was honoured with a commendation award at the Annual Conference of the IPI, held on December 2, 2025, in Abuja, in recognition of his commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists since assuming office.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu welcomed the award and described it as a testament to the positive changes taking place within the DSS under Mr. Ajayi’s leadership.
“The President commends the Director-General of the DSS for ensuring press freedom, upholding citizens’ rights, and discharging the responsibilities of his office strictly within the bounds of the law,” Onanuga said.
According to the IPI, Mr. Ajayi has, since his appointment in late August 2024, demonstrated “an unmistakable commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.”
The organisation noted that the commendation was conferred “not only to acknowledge his commendable press freedom credentials but also to encourage him to do even more and to inspire other officials, institutions, and organisations to emulate his example.”
President Tinubu affirmed that the DSS under Mr. Ajayi is steadily changing the long-standing narrative of hostility between security agencies and members of the press, replacing it with an atmosphere of dialogue, openness, and robust engagement with the civil populace.
“The President believes that the emerging relationship between the DSS and the media underscores the importance of constructive engagement and mutual respect in a democratic society,” the statement added.
President Tinubu urged other security agencies and public officials across the country to emulate the DSS example by engaging the media as partners in nation-building rather than adversaries.
He also encouraged the DSS leadership to sustain the momentum and continue fostering an enabling environment for journalists and media practitioners to carry out their professional duties, in line with constitutional provisions that empower the media to hold public officials accountable.
