Two civil society organisations, the Coalition for Peace in Nigeria (COPIN) and Iconoclast Media Platform, have commended the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, for the establishment of the Directorate of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

The groups further hailed the appointment of Dr Peter Afunanya as pioneer Director/Head of the new directorate, describing the development as a case of “putting a round peg in a round hole”.

While congratulating Afunanya on his elevation, COPIN urged him to sustain partnership and regular engagements with the media and civil society, saying such will deepen democratic principles, enhance democratic accountability, and raise public trust in the DSS.

The groups, in a statement jointly signed on Monday by the National Coordinator of COPIN, Emeka Akwuobi, and National Secretary of Iconoclast, Dr Mayago Mayago, said since assuming the leadership of the DSS, Bichi has left no one in doubt of his capacity to engender innovative reforms in the areas of training, welfare, civil relations, inter-agency cooperation, and infrastructure development, among others.

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They stated: “As patriotic and non-profit CSOs, we decided to issue this joint press statement to commend the Director General of the Department of State Services, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi (fwc, CFR) for the establishment of the Directorate of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja.

“We note that the DSS is one of the agencies of government that we subject to periodic performance evaluation and adherence to the rule of law principle, and make bold to state that the Bichi-led administration has continued to break new ground.

“We chose to openly applaud him on the creation of the new directorate, because we consider it a clear demonstration of a leader that is ready to take the organisation to the Nigerian people, while listening to feedbacks that will be acted upon.

“It is not for nothing, therefore, that the DG SS made a fitting choice in Dr. Peter Afunanya (fsi), whose constant engagement with civic organisations, and well-meaning groups has remained unrivalled in disposition, and legendary in form.

“It is our considered view that Dr. Afunanya, is, no doubt, a round peg in a round hole; a man that is truly worth his salt.

“We trust that the new director, who was a member of the Board of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Sub Committee of the Presidential Transition Council, and currently serves as a member of the Strategic Communication Inter-Agency Policy and Coordination Committee (SC/IPCC) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), will bring his wealth of experience to bear on his new office.”

The Star