By Joy Odigie
Benin – Many bank customers in Benin, the Edo capital, have deplored the difficulty in withdrawing cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
Some of the customers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday, expressed sadness over the development.
They told NAN that the problem of non-functional ATMs started at the weekend and implored the affected financial institutions to urgently resolve the issue.
A NAN correspondent who monitored the development observed that most of the ATMs at New Benin, Ring Road, Airport Road and Ikpoba Hill were not dispensing cash.
Consequently, long queues were noticed at the few ATMs that were functioning.
Some of the machines had messages scrolling on screens such as “temporarily unable to dispense cash’’ and “ATM card sensitive’’.
NAN also observed that most banking halls in the metropolis were besieged by customers with long queues.
A bank customer, Mr Excel Adebayo, described the situation as pathetic and wondered why it was difficult for cash depositors to withdraw money using ATMs.
“I have been on the queue for over 40 minutes and I don’t think it will get to my turn in the next one hour.
“I have gone to several ATMs, but they are not dispensing cash.
“Financial institutions should work on the problem before the Christmas and New Year celebrations so that customers will not be stranded,” he appealed.
Efforts by NAN correspondent to speak with some officials of the affected banks proved futile as they declined to comment.
As at the time of filling this report, people were still waiting on long queues hoping that it will get to their turn before the functional ATMs stop dispensing cash.
