Business
Easter: Customers Besiege Banks
Banks in the Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday in Abuja, witnessed a large turnout of customers ahead of the break for Easter celebration.
The Federal Government declared Friday April 6 and Monday April 9 as public holidays to mark the 2012 Easter Celebration.
Our correspondent who went round the territory observed that most of the banking halls were occupied by customers who came to make withdrawals.
At the different branches of Access Bank, the crowd was overwhelming due to the failure of the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) to dispense cash to customers.
At First Bank, Oceanic Bank and Zenith Bank in Wuse Market, the case was the same as customers queued to make withdrawals.
Mr Felix Ajayi, a trader who spoke to The Tide source while waiting for his turn to make a withdrawal at First Bank in Wuse, Zone 5, said: “I have spent two hours here but I will continue to wait until it’s my turn.
“You know tomorrow and Monday are public holidays and it is Easter, I need to get money to ensure that I take care of my family needs.”
Mrs Josephine Nkolu, a worker with Julius Beger, said that it was better for her to withdraw money from the banking hall as the ATMs in her area of residence does not dispense cash most times.
“I had a bitter experience during the nationwide strike on fuel subsidy removal. I trusted the ATM and it never worked and I had to resort to borrowing.”
At Access Bank, Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim, a civil servant, who expressed anger over the failure of the ATM to dispense cash, urged bank managements to ensure effective service.
“The Central Bank is talking about cashless economy and everybody is trying to adapt to the system but the banks are failing.
“I have spent more time than I intended just to withdraw money.”
Also, Mr Abdul Sani, a trader, said there was the need for bank managers to ensure that they gave prompt service to their customers.
“This is not encouraging, its being a long time I queued to cash less than N100,000.”
One of the bank managers, who would not want to be identified, attributed the ATM problem to an
on-going system upgrading in some banks.
“We will attend to every customer and as you can see we have deployed many hands to ensure that the banking hall is decongested.
“We believe that in no time, everybody will be paid.”