The Director-General of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has pledged to foster a more enabling environment for journalists and media practitioners to carry out their professional duties in Nigeria.
Responding to a commendation award recently conferred on him by the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, a media advocacy body, Mr. Ajayi said in a letter to the President of the IPI Nigeria, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed that he would continue to “champion fair treatment of journalists and create a conducive atmosphere for them to carry out their legitimate duties.”
He disclosed that he had initiated engagements with heads of other security agencies on the need to prioritise the protection and fair treatment of journalists nationwide.
“I have initiated further engagements with my colleagues and heads of other security agencies to prioritise the protection and fair treatment of members of the press across the country,” Mr.Ajayi said.
He commended IPI Nigeria for its sustained efforts at promoting responsible and balanced reportage of sensitive national security and development-related issues, while reaffirming his commitment to continued cooperation with the organisation and its members.
A statement by the Secretary of IPI Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed I. Shekarau, recalled that the commendation award was presented to Mr. Ajayi during the organisation’s 2025 Annual Conference, in Abuja, in recognition of his notable commitment to media freedom and the safety of journalists.
According to IPI Nigeria, since his appointment as Director-General of the Service in late August 2024, Mr. Ajayi has demonstrated “an unmistakable commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.”
“Unlike in previous years, when the SSS was notorious for serial harassment, intimidation, and arrests of journalists, the agency under Mr. Ajayi’s leadership has shown remarkable restraint, professionalism, and openness to dialogue. Conflicts between the Service and the media are now resolved amicably through engagement rather than coercion,” the organisation said.
GIK/APA