President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, on his recognition as a champion of press freedom by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI).
Ajayi received a commendation award at the IPI Annual Conference held on December 2, 2025, in Abuja, in recognition of what the organisation described as his demonstrable commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations since his appointment in late August 2024.
In its citation, the IPI noted that the DSS under Ajayi’s leadership has shown an unmistakable shift towards engagement, dialogue and respect for the media. The organisation said the award was not only to acknowledge his press freedom credentials, but also to encourage him to do more and inspire other public officials and institutions to emulate his example.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu welcomed the recognition and commended the DSS Director-General for upholding citizens’ rights, ensuring press freedom and discharging his responsibilities within the confines of the law.
The President observed that the DSS, under Ajayi’s leadership, is changing the long-standing narrative of hostility between security agencies and the media, fostering instead an atmosphere of constructive engagement with journalists and the wider civil populace.
Tinubu urged other security agencies and public officials to follow the DSS example by engaging the media as partners rather than adversaries. He also encouraged the DSS to sustain its efforts in creating a more enabling environment for journalists and media practitioners to carry out their constitutional role of holding public officials accountable.
