President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new Director General of the Department of State Service, DSS.
The appointment takes effect from Friday.
The approval of Bichi’s appointment was announced in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
Described as a core Secret Service operative, he 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.
According to the statement, the new Director-General began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS.
Bichi is said to have 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.
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He is said to have come 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 is said to have worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia states.
He was also reported to have been 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.
It would be recalled that the former DSS boss, Lawal Daura, was fired following the siege laid to National Assembly by operatives of the DSS, thus preventing lawmakers and staff from gaining entrance into the complex.
Another top official of the DSS, Matthew Seyeifa, was appointed to act as the boss pending the appointment of Bichi.
