By Lawrence Audu
Reports have it that one of Nigeria’s foremost financial institutions, Zenith Bank PLC has had to evacuate their members staff in several branches across the country on Monday, due to mounting pressure from customers who besieged their premises to access the newly redesigned Naira notes.
A video emerged online on Monday where some Zenith Bank staff were seen being evacuated through the fence in an undisclosed branch.
Our reporter who has been having difficulty accessing his e-channel called his account manager in Abuja who also confirmed to him that network has crashed and staff are being evacuated as the multitude of agitated customers were about taking laws into their hands.
Some of the customers complained bitterly that due to network issues, the bank is unable to do table payments while the Automated Teller Machines ATMs could not dispense cash.
Others say it has become difficult to get monies credited to their account for days and counting.
Aliyu Sani said: “Everything about Zenith Bank is now frustrating Mobile app is zero, USSD code is Zero. Such a disappointment… I think is high time I changed my operating Bank”
According to another customer Mabel Nkechi : “Someone sent me money since Friday and am yet to receive it and another transfer was also made to me today and I haven’t received it too, and they were all debited. Please what is going on?”
A look at the Bank’s Facebook page suggests that it has not been updated for 5days another indication that all is not well with the Bank.
While the scarcity of the new notes worsen, cash transactions for many traders in local markets, poor network and other technical issues, stifling online transactions in stores, restaurants and shopping malls in major cities.