The Department of State Service (DSS) has officially appointed Rasheed Atanda Lawal, a Deputy Director, as the new Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Bola Tinubu, replacing Adegboyega Fasasi.
Details surrounding this transition remain limited as of Sunday evening. However, sources indicate that Fasasi, who has held the CSO position since Tinubu’s inauguration, is stepping down to pursue a professional training course.
Insiders reveal that DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi sought President Tinubu’s approval to release Fasasi for this strategic training opportunity. While there has been speculation about potential controversies surrounding the change, sources familiar with the situation emphasize that such transitions are not uncommon within the agency.
“It’s not unusual for changes like this to occur when a new DG is appointed at the DSS,” noted one anonymous source. “Typically, the new Director-General prefers to install trusted personnel in key positions, especially in sensitive areas like the President’s security.”
While Fasasi’s removal is officially linked to his training, the source acknowledged that underlying issues may sometimes influence such decisions. Nevertheless, they stressed that this should not be viewed as alarming, framing it as a standard practice in security operations.
As of the time of this report, no official confirmation has been provided regarding the changes in the CSO’s office. However, another source reassured that the situation should be regarded as a routine security posting, consistent with the operational protocols of the DSS.