The scarcity of the newly redesigned new Nigerian currencies and the large gathering of customers in front of banks daily have led to the shutting down of some banks in Uvwie local government area of Delta State.

Delta State News Bulletinreports that a staff of Union Bank in Uvwie town who pleaded anonymous as saying that customers do not understand that the scarcity of the new notes was not the fault of the banks, adding that the fear of infuriating the already incensed customers by refusing to let them into the banking halls, left the banks with the only option of shutting down.

The report revealed that Zenith Bank on Warri/Sapele Road also shut down on Wednesday, 8th of February, 2023, after losing control of the angry mob a day before. Some Zenith Bank branches have remained locked while others operate under strict Police surveillance.

The Bulletin also observed that large crowds settle in front of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) everyday, hoping to get some new naira notes only to be paid limited amounts of the new notes, as well as and some tattered old notes which leave customers angry.

Mrs. Grace Odikayor, a Point of Sale (POS) operator, who was on the queue in Union Bank, stated that the banks were trying to avoid having angry customers disrupt their operations so they attend to customers from a distance.

“I want to pay NEPA bill and also withdraw but I was not allowed in, the form was brought outside for us to fill and we were given tally numbers. Only a few people were allowed in at a time,” Mrs. Odikayor said.