As the first of two-day window opened on Tuesday for Kaduna residents to go out, restock their foods, drugs and other essentials, many of the residents were left stranded as their banks’ Automated Teller Machine (ATM) failed to dispense cash.
This is just as many customers, who have no ATM, mobile or online banking system are equally left in regret and starved of cash, as all the banks visited by our Correspondent failed to open for business without prior notice or explanation, though their staff reported to work and are all in the confine of their offices.
Majority of the residents left their homes for the business areas to quickly pick up some cash from their banks, make vital purchases and return home before the 6pm curfew time. But many were disappointed when they realised that their banks’ ATM had been overdrawn without any immediate plan by the banks to restock the cash.
Two of the second generation banks close to Murtala Square were thronged by customers who wanted to withdraw part of their money with the banks but they had to leave after a long wait without success.
Hajiya Yusrah Shaibu only wanted to make some withdrawal to buy food but the ATM failed to pay.
“I’m stranded. I have been here for over one hour, i wanted to withdraw money to buy foodstuffs but the ATM is empty, without money. One can only do transfer on the ATM.
“Someone said it is because of the cashless programme that CBN said it would start on April 1 but I don’t think it is proper to start the cashless programme now with all these Covid-19 issues ongoing. Banks need to help us to stock their ATM and run some skeletal services for those who don’t have ATM and online banking system.”
According to Hajiya Aisha Mukhtar, “I have been waiting here for over one hour hoping that they will come out and restock the ATM machines. I came to withdraw some money but there was no money in the ATM.
“So, as you see all of us we are waiting to see if they would put money in the ATM machine so that we can get money to do some important things.”
For Mr Johnson Musa, he has been to five ATMs without success. “I wanted to withdraw some money to buy some things in the house, I have been to five ATMs without getting the money. I was at Murtala Square none was working. I have even called some of my friends to see if they can assist me with cash, while i transfer the money to them but none is yielding yet.”
Blueprint investigations revealed that some of the banks restocked their ATM in the afternoon. Kaduna state government instituted the 24-hours lockdown to stem the spread of Covid-19 into and within the state. Though Kaduna state now has six positive Covid-19 cases, the state government open the two-day window on Tuesday and Wednesday every week to enable residents restock on food and essential needs.
