FOR the second day running, banks in Ijebu axis
of Ogun State yesterday closed for fear of attack by robbers.
This is because all the five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) bought by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration at N85 million each six months ago have broken down.
The development has fuelled speculation that Amosun bought refurbished APCs.
The immediate past administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel ordered APCs at N49 million each.
When the APCs were bought, Amosun assured indigenes of the state that there was a five-year warranty on each of them.
Because of the breakdown of the APCs, all the bankers in Ogun East Senatorial District have refused to work since Monday for fear of their banks being attacked by bandits.
This has thrown thousands of customers into a state of confusion.
It was learnt that the normal routine of the security vehicle, as early as 8 a.m., was to take off from the Igbeba Area command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and move round Ijebu-Ode metropolis.
Usually, it was after the patrol that banks will start opening for business around 9a.m.
However, the customers who stormed various branches of the banks as early as 8a.m. waiting for the opening time were greatly disappointed as at 2p.m. when nothing of such occurred.
One of the customers said the bank officials told them that the banks would not be opened until the APCs were repaired.
Chairman, Ijebu Bankers' Forum, Olusegun Olusoga, said: “The banks could not open for business as a result of some security lapses. Since adequate security was essential to the operation of the institutions particularly in Ijebu axis of the state, the Forum decided to embark on such step as a security measure”.
Olusoga denied insinuations that banks were closed because of increase in crimes in the build-up to Eid-el-kabir (Ileya) within the axis.
Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Rasaq Daddah, described the development as unfortunate.
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, frowned at the development.
Meanwhile, students of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu Ijebu, in the early hours of Monday, staged a protest, forcefully denying staff and principal officers of the institution from gaining access to their respective offices over what they referred to as “neglect of their academic programmes”.
The students expressed their displeasure in a peaceful protest organised at the main entrance of the institution.
The students made a bonfire at the institution’s gate, alleging that the frequent strikes of the institution’s workers and the state government’s refusal to pay the arrears owed the workers have greatly paralysed academic activities in the school.
This, the students alleged, had extended their stay in the school.
According to the Deputy Students Union Government President, Olowooriyibi Zainab, “the inability of the government to pay the workers their entitlement have made them to abandon their works. They decided to voice out due to their inability to meet up with the direct entry provisional admission offered them by their sister institution.
“Many of us got admission to continue with our degree programmes in TASUED but since these people are on sit-down strike, they cannot compute our results. How can we meet up, having spent over four years in this campus now?”
Another student, Williams Olajide, said they were tired of just coming to school without being allowed to write their examination after completion of the academic session.
He said: “The NCE programme of three years have resulted into over four years journey”.
It was learnt that the state government is owing the workers over N2.7 billion salary arrears of 39 months.
It was also gathered that 16 members of staff of the institution have died due to their failure to meet up with finances in treating their ailment or take adequate care of themselves.
About 30 others were said to be on sick bed due to their inability to get money to secure medical attention from competent medical personnel.
The students, who threatened to take the protest to another level by next Monday if nothing was done, accused the government of deliberately killing their future and that of the workers by not attending to their welfare on time.
This is because all the five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) bought by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration at N85 million each six months ago have broken down.
The development has fuelled speculation that Amosun bought refurbished APCs.
The immediate past administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel ordered APCs at N49 million each.
When the APCs were bought, Amosun assured indigenes of the state that there was a five-year warranty on each of them.
Because of the breakdown of the APCs, all the bankers in Ogun East Senatorial District have refused to work since Monday for fear of their banks being attacked by bandits.
This has thrown thousands of customers into a state of confusion.
It was learnt that the normal routine of the security vehicle, as early as 8 a.m., was to take off from the Igbeba Area command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and move round Ijebu-Ode metropolis.
Usually, it was after the patrol that banks will start opening for business around 9a.m.
However, the customers who stormed various branches of the banks as early as 8a.m. waiting for the opening time were greatly disappointed as at 2p.m. when nothing of such occurred.
One of the customers said the bank officials told them that the banks would not be opened until the APCs were repaired.
Chairman, Ijebu Bankers' Forum, Olusegun Olusoga, said: “The banks could not open for business as a result of some security lapses. Since adequate security was essential to the operation of the institutions particularly in Ijebu axis of the state, the Forum decided to embark on such step as a security measure”.
Olusoga denied insinuations that banks were closed because of increase in crimes in the build-up to Eid-el-kabir (Ileya) within the axis.
Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Rasaq Daddah, described the development as unfortunate.
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, frowned at the development.
Meanwhile, students of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu Ijebu, in the early hours of Monday, staged a protest, forcefully denying staff and principal officers of the institution from gaining access to their respective offices over what they referred to as “neglect of their academic programmes”.
The students expressed their displeasure in a peaceful protest organised at the main entrance of the institution.
The students made a bonfire at the institution’s gate, alleging that the frequent strikes of the institution’s workers and the state government’s refusal to pay the arrears owed the workers have greatly paralysed academic activities in the school.
This, the students alleged, had extended their stay in the school.
According to the Deputy Students Union Government President, Olowooriyibi Zainab, “the inability of the government to pay the workers their entitlement have made them to abandon their works. They decided to voice out due to their inability to meet up with the direct entry provisional admission offered them by their sister institution.
“Many of us got admission to continue with our degree programmes in TASUED but since these people are on sit-down strike, they cannot compute our results. How can we meet up, having spent over four years in this campus now?”
Another student, Williams Olajide, said they were tired of just coming to school without being allowed to write their examination after completion of the academic session.
He said: “The NCE programme of three years have resulted into over four years journey”.
It was learnt that the state government is owing the workers over N2.7 billion salary arrears of 39 months.
It was also gathered that 16 members of staff of the institution have died due to their failure to meet up with finances in treating their ailment or take adequate care of themselves.
About 30 others were said to be on sick bed due to their inability to get money to secure medical attention from competent medical personnel.
The students, who threatened to take the protest to another level by next Monday if nothing was done, accused the government of deliberately killing their future and that of the workers by not attending to their welfare on time.
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