Residents of Jos on Saturday decried the poor services by banks as many automated teller machines (ATM) in the metropolis failed to dispense cash to frustrated customers on long queues.
Some of the stranded customers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, expressed disappointment at the failure of many bank ATMs to dispense cash.
NAN observed that no fewer than 20 customers were seen clustering round various ATM points waiting to withdraw money.
The bank customers attributed the inability of many of the ATMs machines to dispense cash to
network problem and accused bank managements of inadequate arrangements to avert the situation.
Mr Alfred Ibrahim, a businessman, said he was on the ATM queue at Beach road in Jos North for more than four hours, lamenting that most of the ATMs were not working.
He said that bank managements were aware of the usual bottlenecks at the ATM points during festive periods and ought to have made good provision for easy access to withdrawals.
“I was expecting the banks to make adequate preparations for this season but out of five machines in a bank, none is even dispensing cash; that is why there are longer queues where they are operational,” he explained.
Mr Chijioke Okpara, a civil servant, said he went to the ATM at Stefans Rayfield at about 5 a.m. and still met bdozens of people on the queue.
“I went to the ATM around 5 a.m. and left around 8.45 a.m. I just wonder why banks would not ensure all their machines are working and have enough cash, “he said.
Mrs Josephine Dawak, a civil servant, told NAN at an ATM at Secretariat Junction in Jos South that the banks were making deliberate efforts to reduce spending during the Yuletide season.
“They tell us if you are not withdrawing above N100,000, do not come to the banking hall, yet they are hoarding money for the machines when they should all be operational, ” she said.
Mr Ibrahim Isa, who was on transit to another local government, said he had visited several ATMs and was unable to withdraw money due to the long queues.
““I am stranded now for lack of funds to continue my journey, I am coming from Abuja going to Mangu Local Government Area, I have been on my feet without food for more than four hours.
“I came to Terminus, thinking it would be easier but to my dismay, the crowd here is intimidating, you cannot be allowed to withdraw for emergency reasons because everyone is tired of standing, “he said.
NAN reports that many customers blamed bank managements for not adequately stuffing their ATMs with enough cash during the festive period.
“Bank officials knew well that cash is always in high demand during this time and more so salaries have just been paid, so they should have made enough cash available at ATMs,” said a bank customer.
All efforts by NAN to speak with officials of the various banks proved abortive as they all refused to comment.
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