The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced a shift back to more secretive operations with the redeployment of its spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunanya. This move marks a change in direction under the leadership of the newly appointed Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
At a meeting with journalists on Wednesday, Ajayi, who took over as Director-General on August 28, 2024, stated that the DSS would be scaling back its media presence to focus more on its core mission of covert operations. Ajayi was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on August 26, 2024.
Ajayi emphasized that the DSS’s primary responsibility is to strengthen national security through covert operations rather than public visibility. “We need to concentrate on our core mandate of covert operations to better respond to emerging security challenges,” the DSS DG told reporters. He added that the service would prioritize professionalism and excellence to address the country’s security issues effectively.
In line with this new directive, the agency has reassigned Dr. Peter Afunanya, the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications. However, details about Afunanya’s new position or his successor have not been made public as of the time of this report.
Addressing journalists at the DSS Headquarters, Dr. Afunanya clarified that while the agency would be less visible in the media, it would continue to keep Nigerians informed when necessary. “This does not mean we want to operate in the dark or hide the truth from Nigerians,” Afunanya explained. “We will engage with the media whenever the need arises, but our focus will remain on our core mandate to ensure national security.”
Dr. Afunanya, who has served as the DSS spokesperson for the past 10 years, did not disclose details about his next assignment. He expressed gratitude for his tenure as spokesperson and reiterated his commitment to the DSS and the nation. “I will continue to serve my country with love, loyalty, honor, and glory,” he said.
In a message posted on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Afunanya reflected on his departure: “Beginnings also end. It’s goodbye. It’s good night and yet a good morning. I remain a Nigerian with love, loyalty, honor, and glory. So help me God.”
The shift in the DSS’s media strategy comes as the new Director-General, Ajayi, aims to reorient the agency towards a more covert and strategically silent approach, addressing the current economic, political, and security challenges facing Nigeria.
