ADC Chieftain Hails DSS DG Ajayi for Upholding Rule of Law

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Austin Okai, has praised the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, for what he described as improved professionalism and greater respect for the rule of law under his leadership.

Okai made the commendation in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, saying the DSS had adopted a stronger focus on intelligence gathering, discreet operations and cooperation with other security agencies.

He argued that the approach had improved the Service’s ability to identify and respond to security threats before they develop into wider disturbances. Okai described Ajayi as a professional security strategist and credited him with promoting intelligence-led operations.

The ADC chieftain also cited what he described as stronger cooperation between the DSS, military, police and international security partners in addressing security challenges, including cross-border crimes and other emerging threats.

Okai further pointed to the growing use of technology in security operations, saying modern tools were increasingly important in tackling digital threats, organised crime and attacks on critical infrastructure.

On human rights, he said the DSS had placed greater emphasis on following legal procedures during its operations. He also claimed that arbitrary arrests and detentions had ceased under Ajayi’s leadership, describing the alleged change as part of a broader improvement in the agency’s approach to rights and accountability.

Ajayi has previously said his leadership agenda includes law enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, accountability, respect for human rights and administrative reforms aimed at improving the DSS’s effectiveness. The Service has also publicly issued statements on specific arrests and detentions through its official channels.

Okai cautioned against political interference in the work of security agencies, arguing that effective intelligence gathering requires experienced professionals who understand the sensitivity of security operations.

He said Ajayi’s rise through the DSS ranks had contributed to his approach to leadership and urged the agency to maintain what he described as an intelligence-driven and discreet model.

Okai also called for continued cooperation between security agencies and adherence to legal standards, saying a professional intelligence service was important to addressing Nigeria’s internal security challenges.