Thursday 7 March 2013


Residents Decry Closure Of Banks In Potiskum

Residents of Potiskum local government area in Yobe State have called for the reopening of seven  commercial banks in the town shut since the escalation of the Boko Haram crisis in the state.
Those who spoke to our correspondent in the town which include civil servants, businessmen and students, said that the call became necessary following the difficulties they face in accessing funds and carrying out banking transactions.
One of the businessmen, Musa Garba told our reporter that, the seven commercial banks were shut after  armed robbers and suspected members of Boko Haram sect attacked them last year, killing many people including their staff members.
Some students in the College of Administrative and Business Studies confirm that the attack was one in the series of such incidents in Potiskum within a short period and that the indefinite closure of the affected banks since then has forced customers to travel to others cities like Azare in Bauchi or Fune-kaye in Gombe State which is about  120 kilometres from Potiskum town for their banking need.
It was gathered that the situation has made customers to spend long hours on queues at Automated Tellers Machine (ATM) points in the two banks still providing services in the town.
LEADERSHIP gathered that, many of the civil servants, students, traders and businessmen and disparate residents turn up at the available ATM points as early 5:30 or 6:00am to withdraw money.
A student said in frustration, “let me tell you that we suffer a lot before we get to ATM points; soldiers and police checking points are too many along bank areas.

No comments:

Post a Comment