President Bola Tinubu on Sunday congratulated the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, on his recognition as a champion of press freedom by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute. Tinubu conveyed his felicitations through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled ‘President Tinubu congratulates DSS DG Oluwatosin Ajayi on IPI Press Freedom Award’. Ajayi was honoured with a commendation award at the annual conference of the journalism organisation on December 2, 2025, in Abuja. “The President affirms that the DSS under Mr Ajayi is changing the narrative of hostility against members of the press and creating an atmosphere of dialogue and robust engagement with the civil populace,” Onanuga said. Tinubu encouraged other security agencies and officials to emulate the DSS example and engage the media as partners rather than adversaries.

Source: Punch December 21, 2025 20:53 UTC