CITIZENS COMPASS– SOME aggrieved customers on Tuesday, pulled down the main gate of Zenith Bank Plc, Benson, Ikorodu in Lagos State, in protest of the lingering scarcity of the redesigned Naira notes.
This is just as the bank headquarters has directed some of its branches in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some states across the country to close their operations due to alleged attacks being witnessed as a result of scarcity of Naira notes.
Eye witnesses’ account said all was well initially as customers were around to demand for various services in the bank.
However, security guards tried to prevent overcrowding by shutting out some customers.
One of the customers who pleaded anonymity said this was vehemently rebuffed as some customers hijacked the situation and pulled down the main gate.
Citizens Compass gathered that the staff on noticing the situation hurriedly abandoned their duty posts and escaped through rear wall of the bank.
It was learnt that the authorities have shut down operations for fear of attacks.
As at Tuesday afternoon, some of the bank branches have closed operations.
On Tuesday evening, some bank customers were seen hovering round Automated Teller Machines (ATM) stands in search of money.
PoS operators charge N700/N5,000
Reports by our Correspondents said some Point of Sales (PoS) operators across the country have jacked up their charges due to the lingering scarcity of Naira notes.
At some of the PoS stands monitored by our Correspondent some operators were charging N700 per N5,000 transactions especially in Ikorodu surburb .
In a chat with some residents, they called on government to find a lasting solution to the development.
Some traders said the scarcity of Naira notes has brought about poor patronage of goods and services.
An official of Zenith bank who pleaded anonymity said that some of the bank’s branches were also closed due to lack of the new naira notes.
The official said that many of their branches across the country were attacked by customers who were unable to withdraw the new notes from their accounts.
Meanwhile, bank customers have taken to social media to lament their ordeal.
A customer, Mr Akinfenwa Olatunde said he could not meet up with his primary responsibilities as a result of the scarcity.
