The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has pledged to promote an enabling environment for journalists and media practitioners to carry out their duties without intimidation across Nigeria.
The pledge was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary of the International Press Institute Nigeria, Ahmed I. Shekarau, following a letter written by Ajayi to the organisation’s President, Musikilu Mojeed, in response to a commendation award conferred on him.
In the letter dated December 19, 2025, and personally signed by him, the SSS boss said he would continue to “champion fair treatment of journalists and create a conducive atmosphere for them to carry out their legitimate duties, in line with the drive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to protect all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion, or profession.”
Ajayi also disclosed that he had begun consultations with heads of other security agencies to ensure the protection and fair treatment of journalists nationwide, stressing that media practitioners must be allowed to perform their legitimate functions without harassment.
“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,” he stated.
The SSS Director-General commended IPI Nigeria for its efforts in promoting responsible and balanced reporting on national security and development issues, while reaffirming his commitment to sustained cooperation with the organisation.
The statement recalled that Ajayi received the commendation during IPI Nigeria’s 2025 Annual Conference held on December 2 in Abuja, in recognition of what the organisation described as his consistent support for press freedom and journalists’ safety since his appointment in August 2024.
IPI Nigeria cited several interventions by Ajayi, including the prompt release of detained journalists and disciplinary action against erring officers, noting that disputes between the SSS and the media under his leadership have been resolved through dialogue rather than intimidation.