Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke has appealed to bank Chief Executives to reopen closed branches in towns across Osun State.
The Governor assured the banks that there is now a new Sheriff in town.
Newsmen recalls that in the wake of the July 16, 2022 gubernatorial election in the state, many bank branches closes shop over insecurity.
A Civil Society Organisation, Urban Alert had also in 2022, raised alarm over the shut down of many bank branches in the state.
Urban Alert had blamed the development on the lack of political will by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to confront the situation.
The group had claimed that banks in the West and Central part of the state were closing shop due to the challenge of insecurity, adding that the only town in Osun Central where banks were safe to do business was the state capital, Osogbo.
Also,reporters had reported of attacks on banks in Okuku, Ikire, Ikirun, Iree, Ejigbo and other towns.
The attacks on bank branches in these towns also came with attendant loss of lives of bystanders and personnel of the Nigeria Police.
Speaking at the commissioning of the rebuilt Ede branch of First Bank of Nigeria on Friday, Governor Adeleke said his administration has reworked the security architecture of the state to secure major towns and villages.
“The conditions responsible for the closing of Bank branches at Ila, Iree, Ikirun, Iwo and other areas of the state no longer exist. Osun is secured for banking operations.
“I call on top bank managements, reopen your branches. Osun is under-banked, even with digital applications, physical offices are still needed in many towns.
“I recently launched a sustainable industrial policy for the state. I call on banks to partner with us for implementation. We want to grow the private sector. This is good news for financial institutions.
“We are receiving high volumes of investors’ interest to enter the Osun market. We are creating the enabling environment. Bank chiefs should join us.