The Department of State Services (DSS) has replaced Adegboyega Fasasi as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Bola Tinubu.

Rasheed Lawal, a deputy director within the DSS, has been assigned as the new CSO to the president.

A source from the State House revealed that the replacement came at the request of Tosin Ajayi, the Director-General (DG) of the DSS, who sought President Tinubu’s approval for Fasasi’s temporary reassignment. The source explained that Fasasi’s reassignment would allow him to attend a professional course.

“I heard he has been replaced with another officer because he is being sent on a professional training course,” the source stated.

The source also added that Fasasi’s removal wasn’t tied to any scandal, though there is always a possibility of underlying issues. “At least there is a reason for his removal, and you can’t really premise that on any particular scandal. Though you can’t entirely rule out that there might have been a misgiving somewhere, it happens.”

The source further explained that it is common for a new DSS director-general to initiate reorganization within the agency, particularly around the presidency. “Whenever a new DG comes to office at the DSS, he is most likely to embark on reorganisation in various areas of the service, especially around the president.”

They continued, “The new DG will always prefer to have his own trusted men on critical beats, with the presidency and the office of the CSO being number one on that list.”

As of now, neither the presidency nor the DSS has released an official statement confirming the change in the president’s security team.