The Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, has tendered his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
Abubakar, who had been in the position since 2018, cited personal and family issues as the reasons for his resignation, stating that they were “nothing very serious.”
Speaking to journalists at the State House after meeting with President Tinubu, Abubakar expressed his gratitude to the President for allowing him to serve for 15 months under his leadership.
He promised to remain committed to the country’s security situation, saying, “I discussed with Mr. President, he understood very well, and I promised to remain steadfast with issues and the security situations of the country.”
Abubakar’s resignation comes after a routine briefing with the President at the Villa. He was first appointed DG of the NIA in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who extended his stay in office in December 2021.
During his tenure, Abubakar oversaw significant developments in the country’s intelligence gathering and security operations.
A 71-year-old retired career foreign service officer from Katsina State, Abubakar joined the security department of the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1993.
He has had a distinguished career in foreign service, serving as senior special assistant to the president (SSAP) on international relations and foreign affairs from 2015 to 2018.
Abubakar speaks English, French, and Arabic, and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French from Bayero University in Kano.
Abubakar’s resignation has sparked interest in who will succeed him as the head of the NIA. The agency plays a critical role in Nigeria’s national security, and the appointment of a new director general is expected to be closely watched.
