Nigeria’s National Intelligence NIA Boss Ahmed Abubakar Resigns

Ahmed Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), has stepped down from his position.

Mr. Abubakar, who served for seven years under both President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari, announced his resignation on Saturday after a meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja.

"After the briefing, I tendered my resignation, and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted it," Channels Television quoted him as saying to State House reporters.

Appointed in 2018, Mr. Abubakar cited "personal, family issues" as the reason for his resignation.

"I discussed my situation with Mr. President, and he understood. I assured him that I would remain committed to addressing security matters in the country," he said.

"There are several factors that led to this decision—some personal, some family-related. But nothing too serious," he added.

When asked about the president’s response to his resignation, Mr. Abubakar chose not to elaborate, stating that it would be inappropriate to reveal the details of their conversation. He did suggest that the president or the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) might release a statement on the matter.

During his tenure, Mr. Abubakar said he had mentored young officers who are well-prepared to take over and perform "excellently well."

Who is Mr. Abubakar? An indigene of Katsina State, Mr. Abubakar was appointed as NIA DG in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, with his tenure extended in December 2021.

The 71-year-old retired career foreign service officer joined the security department of the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1993. He was also appointed as Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Relations and Foreign Affairs in 2015.