By VALERIE OYIBO-ITIE

PoS agents in Sapele, Delta State, have fingered managers of banks in Sapele as the cause of continued cash scarcity in town as well as high charges by PoS operators.

It was said that ATM machines in town still pay a maximum of N40,000 daily as against N150,000 that could be collected before the scarcity.

It was gathered that bank managers are selective in releasing money to POS agents, as they attend only to the highest bidders.

Mr. Matthew Egurefa, one of the PoS operators, said in other towns outside Sapele, queues have vanished from ATMs and money flows easily. He added that banks pay above N40,000 daily at ATMs and wondered while that of Sapele is different.

Egurefa said “it is this sharp practice of selective favouritism that is making charges by PoS operators not to be uniform.”

Judith Etabefia, another PoS operator, called on Sapele residents to blame the banks for continued cash scarcity, and high charges by PoS operators instead of passing the blame to them.

Etebefia added that most times the ATM in Sapele banks hardly have cash.

Concerned residents called on relevant bodies in town to come to the aid of Sapele residents and PoS operators, who charge N200 to N500 for the collection of N10,000. (Adapted from a report by Delta State News Bulletin)