Omu-Aran (Kwara) – Alhaji Sulyman Atolagbe, community leader in Omu-Aran, has advised traders to always take pre-cautionary measures to prevent outbreak of fire.
Atolagbe gave the advice on Saturday in Omu-Aran, Irepodun local government area in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He decried incessant outbreak of fire in some parts of the country and stressed the need for the traders to comply with safety rules and regulations.
He also advised them not to keep large amount of money in their stores and warehouses.
“The claim by traders of loss of confidence in banks to secure their money as a result of incessant robbery attacks should not be an excuse.
“The issue of incessant armed robbery attacks on commercial banks has been a source of concern to us as community leaders, especially within Kwara South axis.
“But that should not be an excuse for traders to indulge in the habit of keeping large amount of cash in their warehouse and stores.
“The banks to a large extent still remain the best place to keep huge amount of cash to reduce loss in the event of any incident.
“Traders are also advised to abide by all fire safety rules and regulation, especially when closing after an eventful trading activity, “Atolagbe said.
He urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to compel some commercial banks that have closed their branches indefinitely in Omu-Aran to re-open in the interest of the people.
“Traders are at the receiving end of this indefinite closure of banks in Omu-Aran.
“Residents who travel to other towns for banking services now prefer to buy their essential needs from there, ” he said.
NAN reports that commercial banks in Oro, Omu-Aran and Offa in Kwara South recorded incessant armed robbery attacks between 2013 and 2015.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560”]
Despite the donation of two utility vehicles to the police by Omu-Aran community, banks servicing the town had remained closed since 2013.
However, some bank branches in Offa still offer skeletal services to their customers.
The development had forced residents of the affected communities to travel to neighbouring towns to transact banking businesses. (NAN)
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