A repeat of what happened in December, 2022 festive period where there was obvious scarcity of cash, is beginning to rear its ugly head as customers in Imo state have already started complaining of the low payments at commercial banks in the state.
Our correspondent who went on a vox-pop on Monday reported that the situation was becoming worrisome especially for bank customers in Owerri Capital Territory.
An Access bank customer who spoke to our correspondent said he was trying to withdraw a hundred thousand naira but was paid twenty thousand naira.
The customer who pleaded anonymity said that the bank staff informed him that there was insufficient cash available at the moment to pay him such amount.
He added, “CBN or Federal Government should do something fast to nip this in the bud before the festive period proper, because nobody would want to have a repeat of what happened last Christmas where 10,000 was bought for 4,000.
“Now, i want to go to the market and buy enough items for Christmas and they are paying me 20,000. Very soon, POS operators will increase their charges once they begin to experience difficulty in getting the cash or paying to get more cash.
“We should all rise against this and stop it now before it will degenerate to a more complex situation. We still remember what Nigerians passed through at the last cash crunch.”
Another customer who gave her name as Loveth Igwe, complained that some banks are playing double standard in dispensing their available cash to customers, adding that while some customers would be given what they requested for, others would receive half or quarter of what they requested for.
She said she wasn’t yet sure if there was a total scarcity of cash at commercial banks but accused bankers and staff of attempt to manipulate the situation probably to make undue profits.
But a POS operator, Favour Munachimso, who spoke to our correspondent, disclosed that banks had started paying them low too. She said operators will soon increase their charges if the situation is not checked.