President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a substantive Director General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

He is Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, a retired career foreign service officer, who, until his appointment, served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs/International Relations.

Abubakar had extensive experience working with the United Nations in peace support operations, mediation process, preventive diplomacy and good offices, as well as the promotion of good governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights.

He also briefly served as Senior Adviser at the Multinational Joint Task Force, with headquarters in Ndjamena, Chad Republic before his appointment as Presidential aide.

Abubakar holds a BA degree in French Language and Literature, and an MA degree in Francophone Maghrebian Literature, both from Bayero University, Kano. He is also fluent in Arabic.

The appointment takes immediate effect, according to a statement signed by Femi Adesina, Media Adviser to the President.