Newly-appointed Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj.-Gen. Samuel Abiodun Adebayo, has declared that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), as an intelligent arm of the nation’s security architecture would continue to provide useful intelligence for the smooth operations of the Armed Forces, as well as other Security and Intelligence Agencies.
He also said though the challenges before the DIA are daunting, but he quickly added that they are quite achievable and that he would do at the Agency.
Gen. Adebayo said this during the handing and taking over ceremony at the Headquarters of the Defence Intelligence Agency, in Abuja.
Recall that Gen. Adebayo was recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as CDI of DIA to replace Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Usman, who retired along with the service chief and is also nominated for Ambassadorial post by the president.
Gen. Adebayo was, until his new appointment, the Chief of Military Intelligence (Army) and served under immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), where he coordinated and provided useful and actionable intelligence for the Nigerian Army that led to many successful operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP ( Islamic State in West Africa Province ) and the helped in directing the actions of the Nigerian Army during the 2019 General Elections.While addressing staff of DIA during the handing and taking over ceremony, Gen. Adebayo said that the Agency “has continued to raise the bar in the intelligence state craft and we can only build on the giant strides already achieved by my predecessors.”
His statement at the ceremony read in part, “I want to first of all express my deepest appreciation to God Almighty who has made everything beautiful at His own time. To the President and C-in-C of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for finding me worthy of this responsibility.
“I also thank, the Honourable Minister of Defence, the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff for different roles they played at different times leading to my selection and appointment.
“I consider this appointment a rare privilege to serve our beloved nation in a different capacity.
“Barely 3 years ago, I left this Agency as the Director of Foreign Liaison to take up the appointment of the Chief of Military Intelligence.
“So, my return is truly a home-coming to which I am thankful to God. Reeling from the position I just left as a member of the Intelligence Community, I do understand that the threat environment is characterised by the interactions amongst myriads of non-state actors, some of which pose serious threat to our national security.
“So much have been achieved by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Security and Intelligence Agencies.
“The DIA has continued to raise the bar in the intelligence state craft and we can only build on the giant strides already achieved by my predecessors.
“Speaking with the former CDI, AVM MS USMAN, and seeing all that he accomplished, I know that the task ahead is daunting but clearly achievable. I, therefore, solicit your unalloyed support, suggestions and advise as we quickly settle down to work.
“My leadership philosophy is that of team work, transparency and integrity. I will want to see a DIA with cutting edge capacity to deliver on the given mandate to the Nigerian People.
“To achieve this, we will prioritise human capacity development with specific interest on specialisation of staff for optimal outcome.
“We will also count on the cooperation of other intelligence agencies while at same time take the welfare of the staff within the budgetary provisions very seriously.”