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Insecurity: Reps Knock Buhari, Demand NSA, Defence Minister’s Removal

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One week after a marathon meeting with leaders of Nigeria’s security architecture, the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, lamented the rising spate of insecurity in several parts of the country especially Benue, Taraba and Plateau states.

Members of the House took turns to criticise the action and inaction of the regime led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), restating their earlier call for a declaration of emergency on security.

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While some called for the sacking or resignation of the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.) and the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.), others called for the shutdown of the National Assembly, partly blaming the federal parliament for not doing enough in its oversight of the Executive arm.

The leadership of the House and security committees had on Tuesday last week met with security chiefs over the growing insecurity in Nigeria, especially on the recent attacks on the Kaduna International Airport and an Abuja-Kaduna train.

READ ALSO: Plateau Killings: Lawmaker Reveals How DSS Ignored Intelligence On Terrorists That Killed 92 People

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The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, lasted over four hours.

However, the lawmakers returned to the chamber on Wednesday to lament the incessant killings and abductions by terrorists across the country.

Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, moved a motion of urgent public importance titled ‘Terrorist Attacks on Kanam and Wase Communities of Plateau State,’ while Messrs Bem Mzondu and John Dyegh moved a separate motion of urgent public importance on killings in Benue State.

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Gagdi partly said, “We were elected by the people to represent them here, with a specific mandate mentioned in the Constitution. It begins to beat my imagination whether that function donated (sic) to us is rarely being practised by all the tiers of the government. Before we do anything, the first responsibility is the security of life and welfare of the people, then any other thing.

“Nigerians are being killed on a daily basis. The four angles of Nigeria…nowhere is safe. What is beating my imagination more is that aside from the killings, who is responsible? Not in terms of the people that are committing those atrocities; the Nigaerian government has come out on different occasions to say they know them. They call them terrorists, bandits and Boko Haram in some regions. ‘Who is responsible’ is the question.”

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Insecurity: ‘I Won’t Resign, Saboteurs After My Govt,’ Buhari Replies Northern Elders

The lawmaker added, “We have a President, we have governors, we have the National Assembly, we have Senators and Representatives put together. Who is responsible for the safety and security of lives and properties of the people of this country? Of course, without any fear of political misrepresentation, it is Mr President.

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“Is our President aware of what is happening to the people of this country? Is he holding the strategic operational commanders responsible for the failure in the protection of life and property of the people of this country? Before people are killed, one of the operational commanders must be (held) responsible.”

Gagdi further lamented that the National Assembly has kept appropriating more funds for the security forces, while nobody is held accountable for the growing insecurity in the nation.

“There must be someone somewhere that has neglected their responsibility or discharged their duty to the best of their ability,” he stated.

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ITF Warns Organisations, Employers Against Rejection Of IT Students

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The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has warned organisations and employers nationwide against rejecting students seeking attachment for their Industrial Training (IT) exercises.

ITF Area Manager in Bauchi, Dr Ashore Paul, issued the warning on Thursday during the orientation exercise for prospective IT students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

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Represented by Mrs Nanzem Yilshuut, Head of Training at the ITF Bauchi Area Office, Paul said that “the act establishing the Fund mandates every organisation to accept students for industrial attachment.”

He further stated that any employer or organisation found in breach of these provisions was liable to conviction and sanctions.

READ ALSO:ITF Trains 120 Youth In Plumbing, Solar Power Installation, Others In Bauchi State

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Paul also urged the prospective IT students to adhere to the rules and regulations of any organisation they joined and to be willing to learn and fulfill their responsibilities.

When these students come back, we expect that there is a difference.

“They should have learned something new because definitely, what they learned in school, would be expected to be put into practicals.

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“This will help them in their academics and also assist them in their future endeavours.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Provide Update On Missing N3bn Within 48 Hours, Reps Tells ITF

They must participate 100 per cent, they must be disciplined and they must be willing to learn.

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“We go round to ensure that they are doing what they are expected to do at their places of attachment.

“When we go for supervision, we ensure that what they are learning is in line with their courses,” he said.

The Rector of the institution, Sani Usman, said that the industrial attachment was an activity that enabled polytechnics to fulfill their mandate as technology and skill-driven institutions.

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READ ALSO:Edo Govt Lauds ITF On Training Of 100 Edo Youths On Skills

“Our students are given industrial experience during their first year so as to be registered in their minds that all of them are meant to be skilled class men and women and that is why the industrial attachment is very important.

“It enables them to build on what they have learned in their respective classrooms and practicals during the year,” he said.

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Usman emphasised the importance of proper supervision during industrial training.

READ ALSO: I’m Being Impersonated – Goodluck Jonathan Disowns Social Media Account

According to him, it will ensure students not only attend their placements but also carry out their assigned tasks effectively.

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“The supervision is also to see that the employers or the places they have been sent to do their Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) do not exploit them to the level that is not required by the institution”, he said.

He further revealed that 3,000 students across all departments in the institution were going for this year’s SIWES.

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Smokers Risk Cardiac Arrest, Expert Warns

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A Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, in the department of surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Prof Eyo Ekpe has warned cigarettes smokers and patients with diabetes to take adequate of their chest in order not to fall a victim of cardiac arrest .

He said that these health conditions trigger certain types of abnormal heartbeats called arrhythmias responsible for sudden cardiac arrest.

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Professor Ekpe gave the warning on Wednesday while delivering the 117th Inaugural Lecturer of the University of Uyo, titled “My Chest! My Chest!! My Chest!!!: Relieving Chest Pain, Preventing Death and Restoring Health”

He disclosed that many Nigerians have died for ignoring cardiac arrest triggers, preventing them, or seeking late medical attention to chest related ailments.

READ ALSO:Tobacco Kills 1.3 Million Non-smokers Yearly — WHO

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Chest pain should not be ignored. Symptom of chest pain that is reported early would afford the clinician the opportunity to obtain adequate medical history from the person, medically examine the person thoroughly, optimally conduct the necessary laboratory tests to unravel the cause, and apply an evidence based treatment modality to relieve the chest pain, prevent death and restore heath.

“People should guard their heart diligently to prevent heart attack. Cigarette should not be smoked, high blood pressure should be prevented or controlled, diabetes mellitus should be prevented or controlled, and high blood cholesterol and lipoprotein should be prevented or controlled. A culture of regular physical exercise must be intentionally domesticated.

“People should guard their heart diligently to prevent cardiac arrest. Causes and triggers of arrhythmias should be prevented by preventing stress, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, coronary artery disease and electrolyte disorders, and avoiding cigarette smoking and alcohol abuse,” he stated.

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READ ALSO:Marijuana Smokers Prone To Head, Neck Cancers — Study

Ekpe said medical consultation for chest problems should be with qualified medical doctors to avoid misdiagnosis, wrong treatment and complications, adding that regular medical checks and timely reports of symptoms of ailments must be prioritised.

Safe-driving habit and road safety must be taken as a serious business. Seat restrained-belt should be used by all occupants of moving vehicles.

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“Bicycles, motorcycles and tricycles should not ply traffic-congested roads. All victims of chest pain and chest injuries must be attended to by qualified medical doctors in a timely manner,” he advised.

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FirstBank’s Digital Banking Channels Suffers Downtime

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FirstBank has suffered a temporary disruption to its major digital banking channels, which will prevent some customers from completing transactions.

In a notice issued on Thursday, the bank said the downtime is affecting services on FirstMobile, FirstOnline, and its *894# USSD platforms.

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“Please be informed that we are currently experiencing some downtime affecting transactions to other banks on FirstMobile, FirstOnline, and USSD platforms. Customers may therefore experience delayed or declined transactions,” the circular read.

READ ALSO:Sterling Bank Unveils First 30 Beneficiaries Of N2bn Scholarship

The bank apologised for the inconvenience and assured customers that its technical team, working with partner service providers, is making every effort to restore full services as quickly as possible.

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The disruption occurred less than two months after FirstBank introduced facial biometric authentication on its FirstMobile app, designed to enhance the customer experience and security.

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