On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred the Commander Of the Federal Republic (CFR) honors award on the Director General of the Department of State Services, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi at a colourful ceremony in Abuja during which 442 other Nigerians and seven foreigners also received national honours, awards and medals for their selfless services to the country.
The honour is in recognition of the DG’s sterling leadership qualities and particularly for his tremendous contributions to the national security management of the country.
Bichi began his career in the Security Division of the Cabinet Office in Kano State from 1981 to 1984. in 1984 he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), the precursor of the present State Security Service, now renamed Department of State Services, where he rose to the rank of director. He served as state director of security in Jigawa State (1998–1999), Niger State (2000–2003), Sokoto State (2003–2005) and Abia State (2005–2006). Subsequently, he served as director in the National Assembly Liaison (2006), Directorate of Security Enforcement (2007–2008), Directorate of Operations (2008–2009), Directorate of Intelligence (2009–2010), State Service Academy, Lagos (2010–2013), SSS Research Development Center, Bauchi (2013–2014), Directorate of Inspection (2014–2015), Directorate of Administration and Finance (2015–2017).
As the DG of DSS, Alhaji Bichi has contributed a lot towards the development of the security agency. Part of his achievements include: Introduction of new Operational platforms(specialize Ops units), Improvement of staff welfare( allowances & housing) across all cadres, deployment of technology for operations (drones), Improvement of Liaison & Ops support for/with other agencies, Input in national policy formulation and feedback, Improvement of capacity building and staff training, Safe City Project (Abuja), monitoring and surveillance of key infrastructure/route within and around Abuja.
Alhaji Bichi was honored alongside Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan; Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad; former Finance Minister and Director Generalof the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Ms. Amina J. Mohammed and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof Tijjani Muhammad-Bande who were all decorated with the medal of Grand Commander of the Order of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second highest national honour.
