Following their complete shutdown on Wednesday, the government of Ogun State has called on the State’s commercial banks to reopen for business.
DAILY POST had previously reported that banks in the Gateway State refused to open on Wednesday in order to avoid a similar attack to that on Tuesday, when irate protesters vandalized banks and their facilities.
On Tuesday, irate residents of Abeokuta staged a riot to voice their displeasure with the continued scarcity of the new naira notes and gasoline.
According to our correspondent, the State yesterday completely shut down all banks and ATMs, making it impossible for residents to access banking services.
Customers also complained that they were unable to conduct online transactions using their USSD and bank apps.
However, the Ogun State Government has urged the bankers to return to their jobs and promised them adequate security.
Additionally, the government pledged to continue working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and propose long-term solutions to the cash shortage problem.
Dapo Okubadejo, the Commissioner for Finance in Ogun, addressed the Bankers Committee at a meeting on Wednesday in his Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, office.
Okubadejo claims that the lack of new naira notes and banks’ refusal to open are “hampering economic activities in the State.” He also emphasizes that the government is prepared to prevent further destruction of banking facilities.
Even though Okubadejo promised increased security for all financial institutions, he said it was unfortunate that some banks’ ATMs were destroyed on Tuesday because people were fed up with not having access to cash.
He revealed that the Governor of the State, Dapo Abiodun, had previously met with Mr. Wahab Oseni, the Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Ogun State.
He advised State residents to be patient and refrain from attacking banks and bankers.
Okubadejo stated, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has indicated that it would give money to the various banks; therefore, as a State, we are using this opportunity to appeal to the Bankers’ Committee to ensure that people have access to their funds, for the smooth running of economic activities across the State.”
Mr. Adeniran Oladele, the leader of the Bankers’ Forum, responded by revealing that misinformation was to blame for the crisis and that the closure had cost the banks revenue.
He said that aggressively informing the masses about the availability of the naira notes would help reduce public unrest.