National News
IIP-SARS Resumes Sitting

IIP-SARS Resumes Sitting
BY: Michael Mike
The Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (IIP-SARS) constituted after the anti-SARS riot will resume sitting on Tuesday 1st March
A statement by the Deputy Director Public Affairs, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Fatimah Mohammed on Monday said the decision was made in order to continue the journey to restore human dignity as well as hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable by the Commission.
Mohammed said although the Commission awarded monetary compensation to families and victims of police brutality in December 2022, as part of recommendations by the panel, there are several cases yet to be concluded.
She recalled that 297 petitions were received across the country bothering on illegal arrest and detention, cruel inhuman and degrading treatment, extra-judicial killing, etc.
She also recalled that out of these cases, 25 were struck out, 12 were withdrawn, 1 was dismissed, 75 cases had panel decisions, and 20 cases were slated for monetary compensation which has since been awarded by the Commission.
Also Read: 13 killed As ISWAP attack 4 villages in Southern Borno
Mohammed noted that while the panel adjourned sine die due to lack of funding to continue with the remaining cases, the Commission was able to acquire some funds for the panel to continue sitting.
She revealed that the panel is expected to sit for an initial period of six weeks (with breaks at intervals) to hear a total of 92 cases. 29 general cases, 12 part-heard cases, and 51 cases involving judgment debts.
The NHRC Spokesperson said: “The Commission is using this medium to seek the support and cooperation of the police and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that perpetrators of police brutality are made to face the wrath of the law.”
The IIP-SARS was set up by the Federal Government in November 2020 following the “ENDSARS Protest” which was triggered by nationwide allegations of Police brutality.
A similar Panel established in 2018 and Chaired by the Executive Secretary of the Commission Tony Ojukwu had earlier submitted its report to the president, the report contained far-reaching recommendations which led to some of the ongoing reforms in the Nigerian police.
IIP-SARS Resumes Sitting
National News
SPPG Calls on Technocrats, Others to Step into Political Arena to Drive Nigeria’s Governance Reform

SPPG Calls on Technocrats, Others to Step into Political Arena to Drive Nigeria’s Governance Reform
By: Michael Mike
Technocrats, professionals, and values-driven leaders have been asked to step into the political arena and drive meaningful governance reform in Nigeria.
The call was made by the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) in a statement at the weekend.
The School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) is an unconventional school designed to attract, develop and produce a new generation of political leaders who will listen and serve the new class of citizens who know their rights.
The statement read that: “In line with this mission, the school has officially launched the #JoinPolitics campaign, a bold initiative urging technocrats, professionals, and values-driven leaders to step into the political arena and drive meaningful governance reform in Nigeria. With applications now open for the SPPG Class of 2026, this campaign calls on the nation’s best and brightest to replace the compromised ruling class and restore integrity to governance.”
According to the statement: “A world-class academic education initiative, the SPPG is designed as a 21st century Disruptive Thinking Leadership programme to train 10,000 new political leaders in five years who will run for elective offices at State and Federal levels in legislative and executive offices, thus presenting the electorate with top quality choices of candidates. These leaders will form the massive base and pipeline of a new and Disruptive thinking political class, known for their Values-Driven Character, Unquestionable Competence and Undeniable Capacity.”
Founder & Chair of SPPG Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili,, highlighted the root cause of Nigeria’s leadership failure and why professionals must step up to fix it, she said: “Poor governance is the direct outcome of a leadership pipeline that has prioritised personal ambition over public service. A nation cannot thrive when those in power lack the character to lead with integrity, the competence to make informed, evidence-based decisions, and the capacity to drive meaningful change. If we do not intentionally develop a new class of leaders anchored in these values, Nigeria will continue to suffer the consequences of poor governance.”
She noted that the SPPG is that pipeline equipping leaders with the right knowledge, network, and values. We are committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s governance system is led by competent, ethical, and accountable individuals.
Speaking on the campaign, CEO of SPPG,
Alero Ayida-Otobo, emphasised the critical role professionals and technocrats must play in fixing Nigeria’s leadership crisis.
She said: “For decades, Nigeria’s governance structures have been hijacked by individuals who lack the character, competence, and capacity to lead. Meanwhile, our country boasts some of the most brilliant professionals – doctors, engineers, economists, entrepreneurs – who have excelled globally but remain absent from politics.
“It is time for these technocrats to wake up, step forward, and lead. Your expertise is needed in governance, not just in boardrooms or the private sector. If the best of us refuse to engage, the worst of us will continue to rule. The time to act is now.”
She noted that at its core, SPPG exists to bridge Nigeria’s leadership gap by developing ethical, capable, and transformative leaders who will drive systemic change.
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Dean of SPPG Nigeria, reinforced this mission, stating that: “Through our unconventional curriculum, we instill integrity, empathy, and accountability, ensuring that our graduates make ethical decisions in leadership. With intensive academic training and hands-on learning from our stellar faculty, we equip our students with the expertise and skills to navigate Nigeria’s complex political and governance landscape.”
According to the statement, the SPPG Class of 2026 offers a rigorous, unconventional 10-month curriculum designed to prepare professionals for leadership in governance. Taught by world-class faculty and enriched by a strong Network of SPPG Public Leaders, the programme provides practical skills, real-world political strategies, and access to a supportive ecosystem of like-minded changemakers.
SPPG invites visionary professionals who are ready to transition into political leadership, the statement said ideal candidates include technocrats and industry leaders like engineers, economists, lawyers, doctors, and business executives ready to apply their expertise to governance.
Also expected to apply are public service enthusiasts especially individuals eager to drive policy reforms, shape governance, and champion democratic accountability; and aspiring political leaders, among who are those interested in running for office or securing key positions in governance to restore national trust and effective leadership.
According to the statement, the deadline for application is August 31, 2025 with scholarships having 40 to 100 percent terms and conditions with interested candidates asked to visit https://nigeria.thesppg.org/apply.
SPPG Calls on Technocrats, Others to Step into Political Arena to Drive Nigeria’s Governance Reform
National News
Seyi Tinubu storms Damaturu to consult with the youths

Seyi Tinubu storms Damaturu to consult with the youths
By: Bodunrin Kayode
Following after his agenda of connecting with the young people in Nigeria, Sheyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, yesterday visited Damaturu, the Yobe State capital to engage with the young people of the state while breaking fast.
The “iftar” engagement was aimed at connecting with the young stakeholders in the polity in the state with a view to possibly watering the ground of any form of latent tension by rallying support for his father Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The visit, seen as a strategic move in the buildup to the pending political season, was heralded with a courtesy call on the Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni before settling into the banquet hall of the government house for an interactive session with stakeholder from all over the state who gathered in the hall hours before his arrival.
Although he did not settle down to have the iftar with the mammoth crowd waiting for him in the hall, it turned out to be a bold reaffirmation of his father’s commitment to youth development and national progress as he went round the tables and acknowledged the guests waiting for him.
The iftar in the banquet hall though a bit rowdy in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, was the second half of the visit of the scion of the billionaire magnate and President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu was held amidst tight security as he was ushered into the hall for the business of the evening.
The visit actually marked a significant political outreach by the inner caucus of the presidency, with the son of Tinubu engaging mostly young people in what many observers described as a prelude to a broader political campaign lying ahead to usher in his father’s desired second term proposed for 2027 just two years from now.
Seyi accompanied by the Minister of youth development Olawande Emmanuel had earlier visited the Emir of Damaturu
Dr Shehu Hashimi El-Kanemi to receive royal blessings from the monarch before his private talks with Governor Mai Mala Buni at the Government house.

At the banquet hall in the government house Damaturu, the youth minister Emmanuel had addressed the crowd shortly after their arrival at Banquet Hall galvanizing support for his Principal President Bola Tinubu.
Some of the stakeholders who interacted with this reporter during the goodwill visit posited that the young Tinubu was indeed trying to learn the ropes politically creating friendship aimed at pacifying the north after the last altercation the region had with his father over sweeping proposals within the revenue sector of the country.
They however agreed that the visit was both symbolic and strategic, noting that it was beyond just politics, but a call for young people to participate in national development and assist in the stabilization of the polity.
Seyi Tinubu storms Damaturu to consult with the youths
Health
We have the best Opthalmology department in the North East of Nigeria – Prof. Tahir

We have the best Opthalmology department in the North East of Nigeria –Prof. Tahir
By: Bodunrin Kayode
Medical Director of the ultra modern Police Hospital Damaturu Prof Bashir Tahir has said that his facility has one of the best Ophthalmology departments in North East Nigeria.
He made this declaration while speaking with this reporter in Damaturu recently.
Professor Tahir stated that having met the facility in a near comatose state, he and his team have been able to create a department of Opthalmology plus six others and set it on a very high standard ready to serve the people in the catchment area.

Tahir who spoke through his Director of Administration Mallam Hamza Saleh stated that “Our Opthalmology dept is one of the best in the North East of Nigeria and you can get a recommended glasses within an hour because of the state of arts machines in that very department in the hospital.”
Speaking on the current expansion going on in the facility the MD stated that “We have ENT and consultants coming from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital UMTH alternatively during the week to do routine consultations, ward rounds and even operations in the theatre.

“We recently spent about N10m to buy equipments in the ENT and we do hope that all the equipments will be available before the end of the year.
On the revitalization of the facility, he went on: “We actually met the three theatres in bad shape but we have been able to put them into functional use by restructuring them accordingly. For now all three are functioning including the O and G theatre where routine operations have been conducted.

“When we came on board also the hospital was not departmentalized. So we did that and opened the way for more doctors to come by creating these seven departments for them to work in an organized way.
“All the departments are functional with seven consultants who man these departments to the satisfaction of all the patients who visit the facility.
This new facility can also boast of two Eye Nose and Throat surgeons and others as the support staff to support the facility.
“We have about 100 nurses with one that is a police officer. We also have some of them with specialized techniques and that has contributed to the progress of the place.
On medical lab scientists, the MD posited that they now have six lab scientists in different areas, two pharmacists and a couple of technicians that assist them on the ground on a daily basis.

They have a solid Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with a pharmacy company in the supply of drugs which is used to stabilize the availability of drugs in the hospital.
On supply of drugs, he noted that they make sure that people served well and patient are the priority of anything that happens in the facility adding that they now have satellite pharmacies in the facility to ensure quality time is not wasted.
The MD said that it was part of their plan to get most of the major equipments before any fresh employment of any professional commences so that all hands will be on deck to ensure the best.
We have the best Opthalmology department in the North East of Nigeria –Prof. Tahir
-
News1 year ago
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News12 months ago
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
Columns1 year ago
Army University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year ago
A History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year ago
Tinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
National News1 year ago
Fraud and Mismanagement Rock INGO’s IDP Cash Assistance Effort in Bama