President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, on his recognition as a champion of press freedom by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI).
The President’s message was conveyed in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Ajayi received a commendation award at the IPI’s annual conference held on December 2, 2025, in Abuja.
According to the IPI, Ajayi has shown a clear commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists since his appointment as DSS Director-General in August 2024. The organisation said the recognition was meant not only to acknowledge his efforts but also to encourage him to do more and inspire other public officials and institutions to follow his example.
President Tinubu welcomed the award and commended Ajayi for promoting press freedom, respecting citizens’ rights and carrying out his responsibilities within the limits of the law.
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The President noted that under Ajayi’s leadership, the DSS is changing the long-held perception of hostility toward the media, replacing it with dialogue and constructive engagement with the public.
Tinubu urged other security agencies to emulate the DSS by seeing the media as partners rather than adversaries. He also encouraged the DSS to sustain its current approach and continue creating a supportive environment that allows journalists and media practitioners to perform their duties effectively, in line with the Constitution’s role of the press in holding public officials accountable.
