Nigerian security and institutional reform efforts

Discussions regarding Nigerian security and institutional reform have emerged from both legislative and intelligence sectors.

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), advocated for holistic reforms that address socio-economic drivers like hunger and unemployment rather than relying solely on military coercion. While expressing support for the implementation of state police, Sulaiman cautioned that without strict safeguards, governors might use these forces to “suppress political opposition.”

Following these calls for reform, Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director General of the State Security Service (SSS/DSS), announced a roadmap to modernize the agency. This strategy focuses on transitioning to intelligence-led, data-driven operations to combat terrorism, insurgency, and organized crime. The reforms include adopting advanced surveillance technology and strengthening international cooperation to track illicit arms and terrorism financing.

Since assuming office in August 2024, Ajayi has focused on transitioning the agency toward a model based on professionalism and legality rather than fear. His reform agenda is centered on five principal areas: law enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, institutional accountability, respect for human rights, and infrastructural and administrative reforms.

As part of this strategy, Ajayi issued a directive prohibiting operatives from making arrests in civil matters, emphasizing the need to distinguish between civil disputes and criminal offenses. He cited a legal dispute with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) as a precedent for these changes. Additionally, Ajayi addressed a recent rescue operation in Oyo State that resulted in multiple fatalities, warning against the use of deepfake videos and social media disinformation regarding the incident.