The Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, has explained his decision to resign from his position, citing personal reasons.
News About Nigeria reported that Abubakar submitted his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu on Saturday evening at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, where he also briefed the President on national security matters.
Abubakar, who had served as the NIA Chief since 2018, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for extending his tenure into the first 15 months of the new administration.
He said that his resignation was motivated by personal and family-related issues, which he described as not overly serious.
“There are quite a number of reasons one will do that. Some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, actually, and the friendship will continue,” Abubakar said when asked about his decision.
He assured that he remains committed to Nigeria’s security and will continue to contribute to national issues.
Reflecting on his time in office, Abubakar thanked the president for the opportunity to serve and for the confidence placed in him.
He also highlighted the significance of having served under two presidents and his role in mentoring younger officers within the agency.
Abubakar, a multilingual individual with expertise in French, English, and Arabic, holds advanced degrees from Bayero University in Kano.
With a storied career spanning decades, the 71-year-old veteran diplomat from Katsina State was initially appointed to helm the NIA by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018, with his tenure later extended in 2021.
His professional journey began in 1993 within the security division of the Nigerian Foreign Service, followed by a stint as a senior presidential advisor on international relations and foreign affairs.
Abubakar had taken over the reins of the NIA in 2018 after his predecessor, Ayo Oke, was suspended in April 2017 by former President Muhammadu Buhari over allegations of fraud.
