A yet-to-be-identified woman stripped herself half-naked in a banking hall over the scarcity of the new naira with the imminent deadline and long queues at Automated Teller Machines nationwide.
As seen in a video on Twitter, the woman, who appeared to be a customer of Access bank, revealed that her frustration stemmed from her children’s inability to go to school because she was unable to withdraw money.
She continued calling for a closure of her account with the bank as it was the second day being on the queue to withdraw money from the bank to no avail.
She yelled, “…Close my account! Close my account! Close my account, I don’t want again. Return my money. My children did not go to school yesterday and today.”
A caption to the video uploaded by veteran journalist, Godwin Enakhena, read, “This is how far we’ve gone as a nation just to withdraw monies that we deposited in banks.
I Just had my share of the madness in our banks, I can’t withdraw from any atm and can’t transfer money from my zenith bank account to another. Which way Nigeria!”
Although, the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced the extension of the earlier set deadline to phase out the old naira note from December 31, 2023 to February 10, the scenario is the same for many Nigerians across the country.
While the CBN has, however, warned commercial Banks not to hoard the new Naira notes, large crowds and long queues still characterize banks nationwide.
Reactions soon trailed the video, with some rebuking her for such acts, while some reasoned with her outburst:
@OlakigbeAyo_ Egbon said, “I just left the ATM machine since past 9, only to collect 20k, even we had to argue and quarrel till that I withdrew. Oga am just weak.”
Annother user, @Moneysenseng_, added, “I truly under her frustration but this is totally uncalled for. It’s an action that she will regret much later because her face has been plastered everywhere on social media.”
@Stazingar_ said, “You can say she’s dramatic but if a Hen leaves drama, what would she train her kids with?”
@Chibyyje_ said, “This is heartbreaking. This suffering from banks is too much” just as @Lizzyhunt11_ added, “Being a Nigerian hurt at this moment.”
Another tweep, @owendino01 commented, “If this rubbish continues next week, this govt might not recover from what would happen. CBN govs and politicians are taking Nigerians for a ride but should be ready when the tide turns, they better be ready to dance to the music they started!”
@tubas2003 said, “Nigeria don turn into cruise now. To get fuel wahala, to get money from your account wahala, to get electricity, wahala, to get passport to japa, wahala to even get anything in Nigeria now ma wahala. When government is not working the country will never work.”