12th October, 2012
It is not getting better, but getting worse in Yenagoa, capital of Nigeria’s oil rich Bayelsa state, as the ravaging flood exacted more toll.
Today, banking activities were paralysed in five branches of commercial banks in the capital, following the flooding of their premises.
The worst hit was the Swali branch of the United Bank of Africa (UBA), where flood overran the entrance and poured into the banking hall.
A staffer, who identified himself as Kelvin, said that the flood had compelled the bank to move its operations to other safe branches in the state capital where the flood had not reached.
He said: “We have no choice but to relocate our operations. Many of our customers can no longer enter the banking premises as you can see; the environment is no longer safe for both the bank and its staff.”
At the Fidelity Bank, on the Sani Abacha Express Road, the menacing flood had overrun its entire premises forcing the bank to halt operation and evacuate its staff.
A customer, Mr Bonny Ibeh, who was at the premises of the bank to make withdrawal from the ATM machine, lamented the impact of the flood on commercial activities.
“This is serious, I had wanted to go in and use the ATM, but look at the premises, I cannot afford to swim in this flood.
“I need money to evacuate my family to Owerri, because the same flood have overrun my home here in Yenagoa,” Ibeh said.
Also in the state capital, the only branch of Diamond Bank, located on the Sani Abacha Road, flood waters had overrun its premises, and pouring into the banking hall.
Some of its customers were seen milling around the entrance to the gate, contemplating on the faith that had befallen them, as most of them complained of running short of money to enable them buy food items and relocate their families.
Mr John Ebogha, a customer said that he had come to make withdrawal with his cheque, but had not been able to access the entrance, just as he appealed to the bank to make an alternative arrangement to enable the customers make withdrawal.
“The bank should do something to help the customers. We need money to enable us meet different challenges this flooding time.
“I want them to move to a makeshift place, inside the town, at least, put up and arrangement to pay customers,” Ebogha said.
None of the staff could be reached for comments, as a few of them were seen pacing up and down inside the flood waters that had poured into their banking premises.