Ahmed Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), recently explained why he stepped down from his role. Speaking to journalists at the State House after meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, Abubakar cited personal and family reasons for his resignation.
“There are several reasons someone might resign. For me, it’s mostly personal and family matters, but nothing too serious,” Abubakar said after submitting his resignation letter to the President at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. He assured that his relationship with the President remains strong, adding, “I discussed it with Mr. President, and he understood. I also promised to stay committed to the country’s security issues.”
Abubakar expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for allowing him to serve during the first 15 months of the new administration. “After the briefing, I tendered my resignation, and Mr. President graciously accepted it. I thanked him for giving me the chance to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for an extended period of 15 months, which is quite rare,” he said.
Abubakar had served as the DG of the NIA since 2018, first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. His stay in office was extended in December 2021. A 71-year-old retired career foreign service officer from Katsina State, Abubakar joined the Nigerian Foreign Service’s security department in 1993. In 2015, he was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Relations and Foreign Affairs. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French from Bayero University, Kano, and is fluent in English and Arabic.
