Customers Stranded Over Early Closure of Banks

Former head of state, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari who is the presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is wining in the presidential election, with incumbent president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailing closely.

There had been rumours on the social media about possible breakout of violence in some parts of the country and Lagos on Monday as the results of the elections tricled in.

But the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos called for calm and assured the residents of peace, urging them to go about their lawful businesses in Lagos. Along the Awolowo Way, Ikeja, some of the banks shut down as early as 12pm. The banks did not give any notice, thus leaving many customers stranded.

At one of such banks opposite the Lagos State secretariat, Alausa, angry customers were seen complaining.

“I wanted to carry out some transactions only to be told that the bank had closed by 12: 00 pm. Unfortunately there was no prior notice to customers,” said a customer who identified himself as Fidelis and was at the bank by 1:55pm.

In Abuja, the federal capital territory, most banks also were shut by 2:00pm following alleged security challenges occasioned by the general elections.
Some of the banks which shut operations were Zenith Bank, Guarantee Trust (GTB), Ecobank, Unity Bank, Fidelity Bank, Diamond Bank and First Bank of Nigeria.

At the GTB, Area 3, Abuja, most customers who came to make transactions at about 1.35 p.m. were not allowed into the bank. According to an official of the bank, who preferred anonymity, the bank’s management directed its closure by 1 p.m. He attributed the closure to fear of the unknown and the outcome of the ongoing collation of presidential election.

A customer at the bank, Joseph Haruna, said he received a mail from GTB, informing him that the bank would close at 2 p.m., only to get to the bank at 1.37 p.m. and was told it closed at 1 p.m.