(Lokoja)
As the world battles to contain the spread of Coronavirus,with no end in sight, bank customers in Lokoja, kogi state say they have been passing through the pangs of protocols aimed at checking the spread of the pandemic disease in the state.
A correspondent of Duaglobalnews who visited some banks in Lokoja on Monday, reports that many bank customers had herculean task withdrawing money through ATM as such machines were either locked or said to be out of service due to technical fault.
One of the first generation of banks in the country,the branch of which was recently attacked by armed robbers in the state had its branch office along Murtala Mohammed road closed to customers on Monday.
Some customers also complained of the rigour of passing through the Coronavirus induced protocols to transact business beyond using ATM.
” It is indeed becoming increasingly difficult transacting business with banks in Lokoja now adays due to the fear of Coronavirus.
“I have being to upto four banks, this morning, with a view to using money to with my money all to no avail. I am really embarrassed the way some banks are treating their customers in recent time in the area,” a customer, Ali Mohammed lamented.
A bank officer, who spoke with Duaglobalnews on the condition of anonymity, said some ATMs getting out of service could be a devise by banks to conserve limited cash in the banks.
“Because of the negative impact of Coronavirus on the economy, we no longer receive much of customers coming to save money.
“This development has affected the volume of cash at the disposal of many banks. If we allow influx of customers to withdraw much money, time will come when we will no longer money to do business,” he said.
Another customer, Hajia Khadija Salawudeen, also decried the corruption among bank security personnel whom she noted indulged in favouritism in admitting some customers in variance with the established Coronavirus protocols in banks.
