Barely twenty-four hours to the Eid-ul Kabir celebrations, hundreds of customers of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc., Panseke branch in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital yesterday received the shock of their lives as they were locked out of the bank’s service for the entire? day. Most of the customers who were in the bank to make last minute withdrawals ahead of the festivities went home empty handed.
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND inquiry revealed that most of the customers had approached the bank a day before but were asked to come the following day, however, felt disappointed when the bank officials again told them that the bank’s computer systems had broken down.
The development, which lasted for several hours, infuriated the depositors and almost led to a breakdown of law and order which prompted the bank’s management to order a closure of the gates leading in and out of the banking premises.
Many customers who had wanted to leave the bank premises for other business could also not do so as the bank’s security officials had already locked the gates, thereby making entry and exit difficult.
Some of the depositors, who spoke with our correspondent and claimed to be civil servants, had wanted to make withdrawals from their salaries to enable them buy ram and also prepare for the Muslims’ annual festival.
One of them, who identified himself as Adebimpe, expressed dissatisfaction in the operations of the bank, claiming that, the bank has refused to apply new technologies to its banking service.
“This is highly disappointing in this 21st century, this bank still operates with technology of the medieval period, it is a shame on them, now I don’t have any money to by ram and celebrate with my family”.