President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General Yusuf Bichi as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja.
The Yusuf Bichi appointment was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by Lilian Omo-Odigwe, Director of Coordination and Liaison at NISS.
According to the statement, the appointment followed a recommendation by the current DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.
Bichi’s four-year tenure took effect on October 22, 2026, in line with Section 4 of the National Institute for Security Studies (Establishment) Act, 2019.
Yusuf Bichi Appointment Takes Effect
Bichi will succeed A.A. Gadzama, OFR, mni, on the governing board of the institute, located at Lower Usuma Dam in Abuja.
The appointment returns the former intelligence chief to a leadership role within Nigeria’s security sector after he left office as DSS Director-General in August 2024.
NISS provides training and professional development for personnel involved in security and strategic studies.
The institute’s governing board oversees its administration and institutional direction.
Bichi’s Career in Security Administration
Bichi began his career in the Security Division of the Kano State Cabinet Office before his transfer of service in 1984.
He later rose through the ranks of Nigeria’s intelligence service and eventually became Director-General of the DSS.
According to the NISS statement, his experience covers intelligence, security administration, operational leadership and institutional training.
The institute said his background would contribute to the board’s oversight and governance responsibilities.
The Yusuf Bichi appointment comes as the former DSS chief takes on a new role in security education and institutional leadership.
His four-year term began on October 22, 2026, under the provisions of the law establishing the institute.