23rd March, 2012
The hope of bank customers in Ijebu Ode and its environs was dashed Thursday as banks in the area refused to resume operation as speculated.
Banks in Ijebu Ode and Remo axis of Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, were closed in the last one month due to incessant robbery attacks in the area.
It was speculated Wednesday evening that the banks would resume operation Thursday, which prompted many customers to storm the banks early in the morning.
However, most of the banks visited by our correspondent in Ijebu and some parts of Sagamu, were yet to resume to work, as customers were seen waiting at the entrances of the banks with the hope that they will resume operation later in the day.
Some of the customers were able to withdraw money from ATM machines, which started working Thursday since the banks were shut.
A source at a new generation bank in Sagamu told our correspondent that it is not yet conducive for them to start operating, appealing to their customers to bear with them.
“We have been meeting with the State Security Service in the last one week, to be honest, they are fully prepared for us to begin operations, but we are trying to put things in order. I want to appeal to our customers to give us time. If not this week, by God’s grace, by next week we will start operation,” the source hinted.
—Abiodun Onafuye/ Abeokuta