Despite the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive that banks load their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) with the old N200 notes, banks have remained adamant.
The Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had on Thursday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and House Ad-hoc committee on naira redesign and swap policy at the State House, Abuja, said he had met with 15 bank executives and directed them to make the N200 old notes available immediately.
A correspondent of NAN who checked round many banks in Lagos, reported that out of 15 banks visited around Ikotun, Agege, Osolo and Allen Avenue, only two loaded their ATMs with the old N200 notes.
A staff member who pleaded anonymity, in one of the banks which dispensed N200 notes said his branch was only given N500, 000 and the machine had been configured to pay N5000 only to customers.
The second bank which also dispensed N200 old notes, one of the bank tellers who also did not want his name to be mentioned, told NAN that his branch was given N200, 000 only.
He said out of the N200,000 , N80,000 was paid to 40 staff members as they did not have any cash at hand adding that the remaining N120,000 was what was loaded in the ATM for customers.
A bank customer, Prince Paul Chigozie, urged the apex bank to ensure banks have enough N200 notes, both old and new and ensure they were loaded in their ATMs.
“Let the CBN give banks enough N200 old and new notes and instruct the banks to load up the ATM machines and program it so that each individual can only withdraw a maximum of N10,000 each day irrespective of the bank the customers are using.
“This means that individuals will have access to N10,000 only on a daily basis, this will enable a proper circulation of money among Nigerians,’’ he said.
However, at Ikotun market, many customers and traders who still had the old N500 and N1000 denominated notes, used it to purchase goods at a higher rate
Point of Sale (POS) agents also are giving out old denominated notes at no cost and new notes at exorbitant value.
A bag of 10kg rice at Ikotun market which normally sells for between N8, 300 and N8, 700, is sold for N9,500 for those buying with old notes and customers are paying N2000 to collect N5000 new notes from POS agents.
