Former Department of State Services Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, has been named Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Security Studies by President Bola Tinubu.
Bichi’s appointment, effective 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 appointment was approved by Tinubu on the recommendation of the current DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.
The NISS disclosed this in a statement on Thursday by its Director of Coordination and Liaison, Lilian Omo-Odigwe, and shared via the DSS’ X handle.
According to the statement, Bichi will succeed A.A. Gadzama as chairman of the institute’s governing board.
Bichi handed over leadership of the DSS to Ajayi in August 2024 after serving as the agency’s director-general.
The statement noted that the former security chief began his career in the Security Division of the Kano State Cabinet Office before his transfer of service in 1984.
“Bichi’s appointment to Chair the NISS Board brings an extensive experience in intelligence, security administration, operational leadership and institutional training to the governance of the National Institute,” the statement read.
The NISS, located at Lower Usuma Dam in Abuja, is a security training and research institution.
What You Should Know
President Bola Tinubu has elevated the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, to lead the governing board of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS). This leadership change is expected to inject decades of intelligence and operational experience into the administration and training curriculum of Nigeria’s premier security training facility.
- Positive Impact: The appointment brings deep institutional knowledge and experienced leadership to guide security research and training at the institute.
- Potential Concerns: Some stakeholders may closely monitor the transition to ensure institutional independence and adherence to modern security training standards.
