Ahmed Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), tendered his resignation to President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
In a brief statement following his meeting with the President, Abubakar cited personal and family matters as key reasons for his decision to step down.
Despite his departure, he expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve during the first 15 months of the current administration.
Abubakar, who has been at the helm of the NIA since 2018, said, “There are several factors that led to this decision, primarily personal and family-related, but nothing of serious concern.
The relationship with Mr. President remains strong.”
He also assured that he would continue to support the administration on security matters, emphasizing, “I discussed my situation with Mr. President, and he was very understanding.
I remain committed to addressing the security challenges facing our nation.”
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Abubakar noted that his resignation followed a routine briefing at the Villa, where he provided updates on national security issues.
“It’s a regular practice to brief the President on various situations, and today was no different.
After the briefing, I submitted my resignation, and Mr. President graciously accepted it,” Abubakar stated.
He added, “I am thankful to have had the opportunity to serve Nigeria under President Tinubu’s transformational leadership for an additional 15 months—a tenure extension that is quite rare.”
Appointed as NIA Director General in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Abubakar’s tenure was extended in December 2021, further solidifying his legacy in Nigeria’s intelligence community.