By Olamilekan FAWAS
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
He replaces Mr. Mathew Sieyefa from Bayelsa State who had been holding forte since then
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement Thursday evening. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved with effect from September 14, the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS).
The statement described Bichi as “a core Secret Service operative.”
The new appointment comes weeks after the sacking of former DG, Lawal Daura, by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. Daura was axed for unilaterally authorising the invasion of the National Assembly complex by DSS operatives.
He was then directed to hand over to the most senior officer in the agency who happened to be Matthew Seiyefa.
The new Director-General, according to Shehu, attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.
He began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS.
The statement reads further: “Mr. Bichi has undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.
“The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.
“In the course of his career, Mr. Bichi has worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.
“He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.
“He also served as Director at State Service Academy.
“Mr Bichi is married and with children.”
