Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), has called for a policy mandating the recruitment of only first-class graduates into the intelligence agency.
He believes this move will enhance Nigeria’s security operations by leveraging top intellectual talent.
Speaking at the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Ajayi—represented by Deputy Director Patrick Ikenweiwe—emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in security recruitment. He argued that intelligence work requires exceptional intellect to counter sophisticated criminal networks, drawing comparisons with Israel’s selective university system.
“In Israel, scoring above 70 in a national exam guarantees university admission. Why can’t we adopt a similar model for security recruitment?” he questioned.
Ajayi dismissed the idea that security agencies should recruit all graduates, insisting that only the best minds should be enlisted to ensure a more effective intelligence force.
“How can a ‘dundee’ (d¥llard) secure a country where criminal gangs are made up of first-class minds? It takes intellect to track criminality,” he asserted.
Beyond recruitment, Ajayi called for a shift in public perception of security agencies, lamenting that many Nigerians see them as adversaries rather than allies—an attitude he warned hinders intelligence gathering and peacekeeping efforts.
Ikenweiwe further highlighted Nigeria’s evolving security landscape, noting that threats now extend beyond espionage and sabotage to include terrorism, insurgency, cybercrime, and economic sabotage.
Referencing the NSA Act CAP N74 LFN, 2024, and SSS Instrument No. 1 of 1999, he reiterated that the DSS is empowered to prevent crimes against national security and provide timely intelligence to the government. He also noted the agency’s role in training security personnel from both local and foreign institutions.
The DSS, he affirmed, remains committed to strengthening national security through strategic collaborations and stakeholder engagement.
