The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria announced on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, that the Department of State Security (DSS) has officially removed Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, from its watchlist. This decision followed a lengthy campaign by IPI Nigeria to have Arogundade cleared.
The announcement was made by Musikilu Mojeed, the President of IPI Nigeria, during the 3rd Nigerian Media Leaders’ Summit in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The event was attended by various media professionals, including journalists and media owners.
Mojeed shared that the DSS Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, personally informed IPI Nigeria of the removal after a recent meeting. Tobi Soniyi, IPI Nigeria’s Legal Adviser, confirmed the removal in a statement, noting that it resulted from years of persistent advocacy.
Arogundade had been on the DSS watchlist for almost forty years, facing frequent harassment, including a brief detention at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The campaign to remove his name gained urgency after previous promises to clear it had not been fulfilled.
The decision was met with relief by IPI Nigeria, which expressed its satisfaction with the DSS’s action. Media leaders at the summit also praised the announcement, and Arogundade thanked everyone for their support. His inclusion on the watchlist dates back to his time as President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) during the military era between 1984 and 1985.
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