CBN directive: Commercial banks open for business in Niger

Commercial banks in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Saturday opened for business as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Our correspondent, who monitored some banks, reports that huge crowds of customers were seen at Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

Also, customers were noticed standing in queues and entering the banking halls to transact business.

Those that opened for operations include Union Bank, Access Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Ecobank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Zenith Bank, First Bank, and Fidelity Bank, among others.

Some of the customers who spoke to Media Talk Africa applauded the CBN for the decision to assist in reducing the cash crunch currently being experienced by Nigerians.

They urged the apex bank to monitor banks to ensure continued compliance with the Saturday and Sunday operations.

A customer at Ecobank, Mrs Blessing Ugwu, commended the CBN for the decision taken to ease the hardship being experienced by the people in the country, following its new cash policy.

Another at Access Bank, Mahmoud Bello, claimed that commercial banks were only complying with the apex bank’s directive to work during the weekend to avoid the planned protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the CBN.

Recall the CBN on Friday through the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, announced that a substantial amount of money had been received by commercial banks.

It also directed all commercial banks to open for operations on Saturdays and Sundays.