The Department of State Services (DSS) has reassigned Peter Afunanya, its Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, in a routine redeployment exercise.
Afunanya made this announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. He did not disclose his next assignment, emphasizing that such redeployments are a standard procedure within the agency.
According to a report by Daily Trust, Afunanya has been a key figure in the DSS media section for over a decade, assuming his role as spokesperson around six years ago during a period when the agency faced significant challenges with its public image.
The DSS had gone without an official spokesperson for several years following the compulsory retirement of Marilyn Ogar in 2015. Ogar’s departure came amidst investigations into allegations of bribery and professional misconduct, which she has consistently denied.
Upon announcing his redeployment, Afunanya expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the spokesperson of the DSS. He reaffirmed his dedication to the agency and to Nigeria, pledging to continue serving the nation with “love, loyalty, honour, and glory.”
The newly appointed Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, assumed office last Thursday, promising to refocus the agency on operational discretion and strategic silence. Ajayi, who was previously the DSS Director in Kogi State, has also committed to addressing the economic, political, and security challenges currently facing Nigeria.
