OMU-ARAN (KWARA) – Chief Atolagbe Suleiman, a business man in Omu-Aran, Kwara, has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria to compel the three commercial banks that suspended operation in the town to reopen their branches.
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Atolagbe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran that the continued closure of the banks was impacting negatively on the commercial and socio-economic development of the community.
NAN reported that the robbery attacks in the area in May 2013, which resulted in the killing of three people, had forced the banks to close indefinitely.
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The closure of the banks, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, EcoBank and Union Bank Plc had forced the residents to travel far distance to neighbouring states to do banking transactions.
Suleiman, who is a building material merchant, appealed to the state police command to reinforce security operation in the town to woo the banks back to business.
He sympathised with the bank and the family of the victims of the unfortunate robbery.
“I think the police had a role in reinforcing the security operation of the town with at least there more police posts equipped with staff complement and working tools.
“This, I hope, will go a long way to complement the donation of two Hilux vehicles to the police by the community to ensure adequate protection of life and property,” he said.
Suleiman emphasised that development project should not be limited to the state capital alone but to all parts of the communities.
He called on the state government to urgently address the problem of decaying infrastructure and bad road network, to improve commercial activities in the communities.
He also appealed for the location of more government establishments, such as ultra-modern markets, fire service station and recreation centres, to improve the living standard of the people.
The community leader said that such intervention was necessary for the government’s rural integration initiative to have meaningful impact on the increasing rural populace. (NAN)