The Department of State Services (DSS) has replaced Adegboyega Fasasi as Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Fasasi, who has held the position since Tinubu’s inauguration, has been withdrawn and replaced by Rasheed Atanda Lawal, a Deputy Director at the DSS.
According to sources within the Presidential Villa, Fasasi’s withdrawal is part of a routine procedure, and he is being sent on a professional training course. A source privy to the situation revealed that the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, requested the president’s approval for Fasasi’s release to proceed with the strategic training.
Those familiar with the operations of the DSS indicated that such changes are not unusual, particularly when a new Director-General assumes office. “Yes, I heard he has been replaced with another officer because he is being sent on a professional training course. At least that is the reason for his removal that we know,” a source shared.
Lawal has reportedly assumed his duties at the Presidential Villa. The source added, “Such redeployment is a common exercise. It usually happens when the DSS gets a new DG. You know they deal strictly with intelligence and operate in secrecy, so the new DG will always prefer to have his own trusted men on critical beats, the Presidency and the office of the CSO being the number one on that list.”
At the time of reporting, there was no official statement confirming the redeployment, but the move is seen as part of the broader reorganization within the DSS under the leadership of Ajayi.
