As the scarcity of redesigned Naira notes continues in Nsukka town and environs of Enugu state, sachet water and snacks sellers have continued to make brisk businesses at bank premises.
This is because many residents in the area still spend whole days in banks trying to get cash to buy things and take care of their families’ financial responsibilities.
Some sachet water, soft drinks and snacks sellers said in Nsukka on Tuesday that they were making good turnovers and profits from their businesses because many people come to banks on daily basis.
Miss Rita Ozioko, who hawks sachet water, soft drinks and snacks, said since the redesigned Naira scarcity started, she had recorded at least N10,000 sales every day, with N2,000 as her gain.
“Some people come to the banks as early as 5 a.m. to write their names on the list; they buy something to eat in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon.
“These bank customers, at times, spend the whole day without any withdrawal, with the bank officials telling them that their bullion vans are yet to bring money from CBN,” she said.
Ozioko said she normally moves from one bank to another in Nsukka town to sell her goods.
“Before this cash scarcity, I hawk my goods around Nsukka Old Park; the highest I make in a day is N3,000,” Ozioko said.
Victor Uruma, a Senior Secondary School 1 (SSS1) student, who hawks soft drinks and snacks, said ironically that he would like the cash scarcity to continue.
He said since the problem of redesigned naira notes scarcity started, he would rush to the banks as soon as he returned from school to sell snacks and chilled soft drinks to bank customers.
“I make at least N1,500 gain every day since this cash scarcity started.
“This has helped me to buy some textbooks for myself. I wish the naira scarcity will continue so that I make more money to assist my parents in my education,” Uruma said.
Mrs Jane Amadi, who sells local snack (Okpa), said that she recorded good sales as she moved from one bank to another in Nsukka town to sell Okpa to residents who spent almost the whole day in banks.
“Before, I will stay till 3p.m to 4 p.m before I will finish selling my Okpa, but now before 12 noon I have finished selling, this is in spite of the fact I increased the quantity of Okpa I cook,” she said.
Amadi said the gains she made, made it possible for her to solve more financial problems in her family.
Banks in Nsukka town still witness a crowd of customers in their premises as the cash scarcity persists.
