The Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, on Saturday, tendered his resignation at the Presidential Villa.
Speaking to State House correspondents after tendering the resignation letter, Rufai expressed gratitude to the President for the rare opportunity to serve Nigeria for an extended period of 15 months.
Sources said the resignation was part of the president’s plan to overhaul the security architecture of the country towards checkmating the rising insecurity.
Mr Abubakar was first appointed to head the nation’s premier external security outfit by the Buhari administration in April 2017, following the removal of the acting director-general, Mohammed Dauda.
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“I had the honour of serving two Presidents consecutively. I thanked him for the opportunity afforded me,” he said.
Mr Abubakar cited personal reasons for his resignation, declining to elaborate further as, according to him, it would be a breach of protocol.
He stated that the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the president would disclose the reasons for his resignation if necessary.
Mr Abubakar expressed his appreciation for the President’s leadership, encouragement, and confidence in his service.
He highlighted the opportunity to mentor officers and staff during his seven-year tenure as director-general, saying, “This is a significant milestone for me, and I am grateful for the experience.”
