Kunle Adelabu & Odede Efezino Kenneth (Trainee)
As the scarcity of naira continues, residents have persisted in lamenting the effects of the hard time on their personal lives and businesses with call on the government to resolve the issue in good time and end their sufferings.
They also expressed fear and uncertainties in the days to come, going by the situation which is now degenerating into violent protests.
It was calm everywhere when our reporter visited various parts of Igbogbo in lgbogbo/Bayeku LCDA in lkorodu division, on Friday to again ascertain how residents are responding to the challenging times.
Banks were still shut; pupils and students scanty in schools, market deserted and few people were seen on the roads around noon when our reporter went round.
In a conversation with Mr Johnson, one of Sterling bank officials, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that banks are still shut because of security threats that the nation is facing due to the scarcity of the naira.
” As it is now, there’s security threat and with what is happening now, one needs to be security conscious because of what is happening to banks all around”, he said.
“As we all know, they have damaged so many banks in Delta, Edo and some other areas, even our branch is even affected and the management says we should shut down for now and see how things goes”.
When asked how long it will take them to resume to duty, he said:
“The closure is till further notice, because there’s no cash for now and there is no specific time for us to open”, he said.
At the UBA branch located by the side of the Sterling bank, the official that spoke with our reporter said that there is no cash and so, there was need to have any conversation with our reporter.
A POS operator in the community, Mrs Olabode also explained how difficult it is for her to get cash, a reason she said caused the high rate of withdrawal charges.
She alleged that she is buying money at exorbitant rate.
“I am unable to collect money, even if we are able to collect money, we will have to buy it. We are buying fifty thousand Naira for four thousand Naira and it is not okay at all”, she said.
“You will have to pay me five hundred naira to withdraw the 5 thousand naira”, she added when our reporter asked to withdraw from her.
Another resident, Mr Kazeem, who was met at the Igbogbo Central Mosque, Igbogbo, where he had went to observe Jumat, also blamed the CBN policy for the hardship and uncertainties.
“What our leaders are doing is not good at all. As artisans, our businesses have been grounded, because people no longer patronizing us because there is no money in circulation. Take a look at the elderly people who cannot transfer cash, are they not going to be hungry?”, he asked.
“They should think about the people. They should please have mercy on us. Since when I have been born, whenever they want to change money, they usually spend the new ones and the old ones together and it won’t affect anyone. Election is around the corner and all these things are happening. It is just unfair and they should have mercy on us”, he pleaded.
“My advice is that, they should look at what is happening because there’s nothing a person does that does not have nemesis. All that are happening probably do not affect them, but are affecting the ordinary people and that is why the CBN governor and President Buhari should find a long lasting solution to all these.
“An elderly person who cannot make transfer and has little money with them cannot spend because it is old notes and unable to pay their offerings to Allah. Some of them that do receive money from their children are unable to withdraw because it is difficult doing that everywhere since there is no new notes. In fact, many people are unable to feed themselves at home because of this policy”, he lamented.
Mrs Adebowale, a teacher at Platinum Comprehensive College, Igbogbo, appealed to the government to find a long lasting solution to the malady in the whole country, which has made schools to closed early.
“Most parents are afraid because of the security threats and some don’t even have cash to prepare things for their children. As you can see, we closed earlier than usual today and that is because their parents came to pick them early today”, she said.
“My advice to the government is for them to find a long lasting solution to this issue. To go to Ikorodu garage is scary for people because of all what is happening. Banks are not even working. I just want to plead with the government to please find a solution to this”, she pleaded.
Mrs. Nwajoba, who trade in vegetable at the Igbogbo market, also pleaded with the government to find solutions to everything going on, stating that people are coming to the market with the old naira notes but they are afraid of collecting them.
“As you can see, there is no patronage in the market. Please, we beg the government to find something to do to all these”, she pleaded.
“People are not coming to buy stuffs and the ones coming are bringing the old naira notes, but we are afraid to collect them. Please, inform them to find a solution to all these”, she pleaded.
