….as customers hurry for last-minute transactions

Bank customers in Abuja yesterday besieged their banks in last minute transactions ahead of a total lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory effective 11.00 pm today.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in his national broadcast yesterday ordered the lockdown of the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States, in view of the growing reported cases of COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT and Lagos and potential spread in Ogun, in view of its vicinity to Lagos State.

Our correspondent, who monitored some banks branches in Abuja, reports that both the banking halls and the ATMs were deluged by customers.

Daily Trust also reports that most of the transactions were withdrawals and transfers.

Branches observed by our correspondent in Abuja metroplois included the FCMB in Central Area, Sterling Bank Central Area, First Bank Main Branch, UBA Jahi, Acces Bank Audit House, Ecobank Zone 4, UBA Wuse Zone 4, Zenith Jabi and First bank Wuse Zone 2.

All these bank branches had several customers in the banking halls and at the ATMs, despite their efforts to enforce the social distancing directive of the government.

A cross section of the customers told our correspondent they needed cash to stock essentials ahead the lockdown.

Some said they also needed to send money to their loved ones even in other states so they could also prepare for the worst.

A customer, who gave his name as Chibuzor Ndubuisi, said that he also needed to deposit money he had made over the weekend in his business.

“I came to deposit money. But I also sent some money to my relations. Though they haven’t any case of Corona virus in Abia state but if I don’t send them money now, I can’t send them money till after two weeks or more”, he said.

Another customer, Christian Okafor, told our correspondent he needed to withdraw enough money to buy sufficient food stuffs for his family.

Okafor said: “I need to buy food to last at least two weeks for my family. The queue is much but I will wait. What has made it worst is the enforcement of the social distancing policy by the banks. So, the queue is slow hence the crowd.”

The rush at the ATM during the morning hours in Lagos was massive as people were seen in Large queue around Ogba area and Magodo, struggling to get cash.

At the GTB branch around Ogba, people had queued up as early as 7am. Same goes for those around Magodo.

ATM around Victoria Island were however free as most office and shops were locked and there appeared to be more ATM locations because of the presence of huge business outlets.

A resident of the area, Mr. Sam Obosi, told our correspondent that prior to the lock down announcement, people had become accustomed to using their mobile banking applications and their ATM cards.

“The need to keep physical cash is limited because of the level of awareness, besides, passing cash around is also a risk factor for COVID-19.”

Our correspondent also observed that most of the banks had no hand sanitizer neither were the bank security officials urging customers to observe some distancing from each other.

Salamu Adoga, a resident Egbeda in Lagos, told Daily Trust that the queue in the area was also very long.

She said: “If you need to use the ATM of any bank at all, you have to go out with your umbrella and lunch.”

Another bank customer, Yahaya Alade said: “Nigerian banks are not empathetic at all. They are increasing the panic here in Ikorodu with 80% of all the ATM terminals out of cash on a critical day like this.”