PHOTOS: ‘Allotted numbers, long queues’ — Nigerians face difficulty getting cash at ATMs

Despite the extension of the deadline for the use of old naira notes, Nigerians have continued to throng banks to obtain new notes.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had given a deadline of January 31 for the validity of old notes — but it was recently extended to February 10.

To ascertain the state of things, TheCable visited automated teller machine (ATM) galleries in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano on Tuesday. 

While many ATMs were not dispensing cash, long queues were seen at ATM galleries where cash was available.

At the Access Bank ATM in Megida bus stop, Ayobo, Lagos, customers devised a numbering system for the queues. But in spite of the approach, TheCable reporter — who was given ‘Number 295’ — witnessed a heated verbal altercation.

At the Zenith Bank branch in Iyana Ipaja, TheCable observed that two out of the six ATMs were loaded with cash. Customers were told to form two lines: one for Zenith customers, and the other for customers of other banks.

While Zenith customers were allowed to withdraw N5000 at a go, other bank customers were only allowed to withdraw N1000.

At the Zenith bank branch in Ile-Epo junction, Lagos, it was observed that a crowd blocked the entrance of the bank in order to gain access to the ATM gallery. Also, the process of cash withdrawal was slow.

There was no cash available at the ATM terminal in Unity Bank in Ile-Epo junction, leaving customers stranded. The situation was the same at branches of Sterling Bank and United Bank of Africa (UBA) at Abule Egba and Alakija, respectively. 

A teller told TheCable at the UBA branch that there was no cash for withdrawal. 

“There is no cash yet. If we had a customer that deposited cash, it would have been better but we do not have cash deposits at the moment,” she said. 

In Kano, most of the ATMs visited were crowded, with residents attempting to withdraw the new notes.

When TheCable visited some banks in the state, customers who were discouraged by the queues attempted to obtain cash in the banking hall — but they were instructed to return to the ATMs and join the queues.

During a visit to Baze University, Abuja, several customers, mostly students, were found queuing at the Zenith Bank ATM.

At the ATMs in Wuse II, customers visited with several cards to make multiple withdrawals, but the security guards deployed to the machines restricted them from using more than one card.