By Dada Ahmed.
(C) Premium Times.
The Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS/SSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has pledged to promote media freedom and ensure the protection and fair treatment of journalists across Nigeria.
Mr. Ajayi made the pledge in a letter to the President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, following a commendation award presented to him by the media advocacy organisation according to a statement signed by Ahmed I. Shekarau, Secretary, IPI Nigeria in Abuja and a copy made available to The Reporters on Sunday.
The letter, dated December 19, 2025, was personally signed by the SSS Director-General.
Mr. Ajayi reaffirmed his commitment to creating an enabling environment for journalists to carry out their lawful professional duties, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s resolve to protect all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion, or profession.
He disclosed that he had initiated engagements with heads of other security agencies to prioritise the safety and fair treatment of media practitioners, nationwide, to strengthening cooperation among security agencies in safeguarding press freedom.
“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 stated.
The SSS boss commended IPI Nigeria for its sustained advocacy for responsible, balanced, and ethical reporting on sensitive national security and development issues, assuring the organisation of his continued cooperation and openness to dialogue with journalists and media bodies.
Meanwhile, in a statement signed by the Secretary of IPI Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed I. Shekarau, recalled that the commendation award was presented to Mr. Ajayi at the organisation’s 2025 Annual Conference held on December 2 in Abuja, in recognition of his commitment to media freedom and the safety of journalists.
According to IPI Nigeria, since Mr. Ajayi’s appointment as Director-General in late August 2024, the SSS has demonstrated a notable shift towards professionalism, restraint, and respect for press freedom.
“Unlike previous years when the SSS was notorious for harassment, intimidation, and arrests of journalists, the agency under Mr. Ajayi’s leadership has shown remarkable openness to dialogue, with disputes now resolved through engagement rather than coercion,” the organisation stated.
IPI Nigeria cited several instances to support its position, including the swift release of a journalist,Mr. Adejuwon Soyinka, in Lagos after his detention was brought to Mr. Ajayi’s attention shortly after he assumed office.
The organisation also highlighted Mr. Ajayi’s intervention in the long-standing case of Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), who had faced repeated harassment at Nigeria’s borders due to an SSS watchlist placement dating back to the 1980s.
The issue, IPI Nigeria said, was resolved decisively following Mr. Ajayi’s action.
In another case involving Order Paper newspaper, where a staff member was arrested over an inaccurate report alleging SSS involvement in activities at the National Assembly, IPI Nigeria said Mr. Ajayi promptly ordered the journalist’s release on administrative bail.
The matter was later resolved through dialogue, with all charges withdrawn.
Similarly, during the February 2025 Lagos State House of Assembly crisis, IPI Nigeria said the SSS Director-General opted for engagement rather than confrontation over contentious media reports, leading to an amicable resolution.
The organisation further revealed that in October 2025, Mr. Ajayi ordered disciplinary action against SSS officers involved in the arrest and detention of two journalists from Jay 101.9 FM in Jos, and directed that a formal apology be issued to the journalists and their media organisation.
IPI Nigeria said it publicly acknowledged Mr. Ajayi’s press freedom credentials not only to encourage him to sustain the momentum, but also to inspire other public officials and institutions to uphold the principles of media freedom and respect for journalists.
