…Call For Federal Government’s Intervention.
By Udesinanna Stephen
Despite the appeal of Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji that commercial banks in the State should accept old naira notes from customers, the appeal is yet to yield the expected results.
A visit to some commercial banks in Ado Ekiti, by members of the Online Media Chapel of the Ekiti State NUJ Council showed that the banks were not accepting the old naira notes.
At the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Bank road, Ado-Ekiti, a businessman, Chibuzor Anyah Ukwu described the development as very frustrating and disappointing, saying some people have been in the bank early in the morning without being attended to.
According to him, the worst aspect of the situation was the tear-gas released on them by the security agents present at the bank, describing such as uncalled for.
“I left my business to be here and nobody is in my shop as I speak to you”.
Another customer, who did not want his name to be mentioned claimed that after much plead, he was given only #2,000 which he said could not cover his transport fare from Aramoko to Ado.
At Keystone Bank, a Cleric, Pastor Agboola Abiodun noted that he had a bitter experience, as he was given number two hundred and thirty, adding that he could not get money at the long run.
“It is becoming unbearable and unpalatable for somebody to have money in the bank, but unable to collect it to feed his family and meet other needs”.
Suggesting the way out, the Cleric said President Muhammadu Buhari should direct banks to start collecting the old naira notes.
Also, a petrol attendant in Ado-Ekiti, who spoke under the condition of anonymity pointed out that they were not accepting the old notes from customers since banks were rejecting it as legal tender.
Speaking on cashless policy, a trader, Jickson Udoh noted that the cashless policy was really affecting their businesses, calling federal government to make the new naira notes available for easy transaction.
In an interview, an official of Sterling Bank who preferred anonymity, said there was no directive from the CBN as regards the acceptance of the old naira notes.
At the Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB and other banks visited, the story is the same.