On Saturday, as instructed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, banks in the Federal Capital Territory (FCTsatellite )’s cities opened for business (CBN).
Massive throngs of patrons were reportedly witnessed at banks’ Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) terminals, according to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who watched certain banks in the Territory.
Also, according to NAN, consumers were spotted queuing in line and sequentially entering banking halls.
A number of banks have started operating along the Nyanya-Mararaba route, including First City Monument Bank (FCMB), United Bank for Africa (UBA), Zenith Bank, First Bank, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, and Access Bank.
Despite not being aware of the CBN instruction, Mrs. Ngozi Ugoh, an Access Bank client, claimed that she went inside to obtain some cash when she noticed a huge throng in her bank, despite not knowing about the CBN directive.
“I didn’t know about the guideline of operating on weekends, but I was simply walking by and noticed people so I went inside to see if I can collect some cash,” the woman said.
Mr. Andy Jerry, another client at Zenith Bank, hailed the change as positive.
In order to put off the Nigeria Labour Congress’ (NLC) planned demonstration against the central bank, he claimed that banks were adhering to the CBN’s direction to work on weekends.
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“I believe the CBN required banks to open on Saturdays and Sundays in order to prevent the NLC protest from going through.
That would offer individuals more time to obtain cash, he added, which is why he likes it.
The CBN’s instruction was praised by Miss Stephanie Ikpe.
The widespread cash shortage, according to her, will be eased by the development.
Ikpe urged the CBN to keep an eye on the banks to make sure they were still open on the weekends.
A significant sum of money in various denominations had been received by commercial banks, the CBN said on Friday through the acting director of the corporate communication department.
All commercial banks have been ordered by the central bank to open on Saturdays and Sundays.
