Govenor Adeleke urges banks re-open Osun’s shuttered branches

Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun, has urged bank CEOs to reopen closed branches in the state’s municipalities.

The Governor gave the banks reassurance that a new Sheriff had arrived.

Infostride News recalls that several bank branches in the state closed their doors due to insecurity after the July 16, 2022 gubernatorial election.

Urban Alert, a civil society organization, has also expressed concern in 2022 about the closure of many bank branches in the state.

Former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s lack of political will to address the issue was the cause of the development, according to Urban Alert.

The group asserted that banks in the state’s West and Central regions were closing their doors because of the problem of insecurity, and that Osogbo, the state capital, was the only town in Osun Central where banks could operate without fear.

In addition, Infostride News had reported on bank attacks in a number of locations, including Okuku, Ikire, Ikirun, Iree, and Ejigbo.

Attacks on bank branches in these towns also resulted in the deaths of onlookers and Nigeria Police officials.

Speaking on Friday during the opening of First Bank of Nigeria’s renovated Ede branch, Governor Adeleke said his administration had revised the state’s security architecture to better protect important towns and communities.

“The reasons for the bank branches closing in Ila, Iree, Ikirun, Iwo, and other districts of the state are no longer valid. Banking operations can be done safely in Osun.

“I appeal to the top bank executives to reopen your branches. Osun is underbanked; many communities still require physical offices even with digital applications.

“I just started the state’s sustainable industrial policy. I urge banks to work with us to accomplish this. We want the private sector to expand. Financial institutions should find this to be positive.

“We are getting a lot of interest from investors to enter the Osun market. The enabling environment is being created by us. Bank presidents ought to join us.