By David Uka, Abakaliki

The COVID 19 Taskforce of  Afikpo North local governement team have sealed off one of the leading old generation Banks in the area for not complying with state government safety protocols against coronavirus.

The Chairman Afikpo North Local Government Area, Hon Ogbonnaya Oko Enyim who confirmed the sealing off if the bank in an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki, said that the local government during its stakeholders meeting last week directed all banks, restaurants, drinking joints and other business areas to adhere strictly to the state government safety protocols on preventive measures against the spread of the virus.

Hon Oko Enyim stated that when the team arrived the bank, it was observed that none of the preventive measures instructed to be adhered to by the state government was put in place by the bank.

According to the Council boss; “it is very unfortunate and regretable that despite the warnings of President Mohammadu Buhari and the Governor of Ebonyi State for commercial centers to put in place and ensure strict adherance to preventive measures against the spread of coronavirus in the state, some of them decided to be a clog on the wheels of government progress”.

“Our taskforce team this morning visited banks in the local government to monitor the level of compliance, on arriving the roundabout, Eke market branch of the bank , it was observed that none of the directives was adhered to”.

“When the team made attempt to gain access to the bank, the security personel at the bank did not allow the team to gain access and all efforts made to speak with the management of the bank, fell on deaf ears”.

“Before now, there has been several warnings for the bank to ensure that their customers wear facemasks and ensure social distance while transacting their business but none of the warnings was taken into consideration by the bank”.

“So the taskforce team today have to seal off the bank and stopped the bank from carrying out its operations today. We made it mandatory today that we will not allow them to operate until they adhere strictly to all the preventive measures instructed by the government”.

Speaking further on the sealing of the bank, the Development Center Coordinator of Afikpo North, Hon. Mrs Amauche Otunta alleged that when the team made effort to gain access to the bank, security personel attached to the bank attacked them and try to stop the team from sealing off the bank.

She noted that when the team visited another bank like Zenith Bank Plc Afikpo branch, “the bank management complied immediately we spoke to them. The bank  asked the crowd to leave and when the team went back to ascertain if they still complied, there was full compliance to all the measures”.

According to her, “the measure was taken to serve as a lesson to others who has refused to comply with the state government directives”. Ends

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