Redesigned Naira: Few banks’ ATMs dispense new notes

Despite the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), assurance that the redesigned Naira notes would go into circulation yesterday, Daily Trust checks showed that banks are yet to include the new notes in their Automated Teller Machines (ATM). When our reporters visited some ATMs, Nigerians expressed concerns as to why the machines were still disbursing the […]

Despite the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), assurance that the redesigned Naira notes would go into circulation yesterday, Daily Trust checks showed that banks are yet to include the new notes in their Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

When our reporters visited some ATMs, Nigerians expressed concerns as to why the machines were still disbursing the old currencies contrary to what the CBN had promised on the circulation of the new notes.

Speaking to Daily Trust in Abuja, Divine Chukwuemeka, a bank customer said since his arrival, the ATM has not dispensed the new notes.

Another resident, Mercy Popoola said “I thought the machine would pay me in the new currency but to my surprise, it paid me in the old ones.

However, First and Zenith bank has commenced disbursing the new notes to their interested customers via over-the-counter payment.

A visit to some commercial banks in Lagos revealed that many banks have not loaded their ATMs with the new naira notes.

Some of the banks visited at Oba Akran Avenue in Lagos include the GTB, Zenith and Keystone where some customers visited hoping to withdraw new naira notes.

“I came to Zenith ATM here but it is still the old naira notes that are being dispensed,” a bank customer who identifies himself as Mr. Richard said.

A security official at one of the banks said, “The banks are still working on the ATMs, you know they would still have to configure the ATMs before they can begin to dispense the new notes.”

Our correspondents also visited ATMs in Alausa, Ikeja, Marina and Agbara, where it was discovered that none dispensed the new bank notes.

It was discovered that banks in Rivers State were yet to start disbursing the new naira notes. Some of the banks visited by our reporter showed that the ATMs are still dispensing the old naira notes.

It was a similar story in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states when our correspondents visited some ATMs.

Our reporter observed that the few ATMs working in Owerri are loaded with old notes

A customer, who identified himself as John, said he was in one of the banks at Douglas Road to specifically ask for the new notes, but was asked to wait.

However, Daily Trust gathered that some banks in Ado-Ekiti have started dispensing the new notes.

Our reporter observed that customers had access to new notes at Access Bank on Bank road, Ado-Ekiti. At a branch of United Bank for Africa, UBA, on the same axis, customers were also given new notes but at fewer quantities.

“For every N20,000, you are given N18,000 of old notes while N2,000 of new notes,” noted one of the customers, Akin Babatunde.

 

By Ismaila Isah (Abuja), Abdullateef Aliyu & Eugene Agha, (Lagos) Victor Edozie (Port Harcourt) Raphael Ogbonnaiye (Ado-Ekiti) Iniabasi Umo (Uyo) Eyo Charles (Calabar) & Jude Owuamanam, (Owerri)