Niger Delta
Weekend Banking Excites Edo, Delta, Bayelsa Customers
Most commercial banks in Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States opened for business at the weekend in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive.
The Tide source reports that the CBN had on Friday, confirmed the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) across the country.
In a statement issued by Dr Isa AbdulMumin, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, the apex bank also directed all DMBs to open for operation on Saturdays and Sundays to meet their customers’ demands.
According to AbdulMumin, a substantial amount of money in various denominations has been received by the banks for onward circulation to their customers.
“The CBN has also directed all banks to load their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) as well as conduct physical operations in the banking halls through the weekends.
“Branches of commercial banks will operate on Saturdays and Sundays to attend to customers’ cash needs,” he said.
A survey conducted by The Tide’s source in the three states saw customers on queues, with bank officials making efforts to meet their cash needs.
The banks were, however, dispensing the old Naira notes.
The source reports that while the banks were paying over the counter, the Automated Tellers Machines (ATMs) were also dispensing cash simultaneously.
Some of the customers, who spoke to the source pleaded that the banks continue to work at weekends so as to increase the Naira notes in circulation nationwide.
The respondents also appealed for increase in the daily withdrawal limit, saying the approval of between N10, 000 and N30,000 was not sufficient to keep small business operators afloat for now.
In Benin, almost all the banks were open for business.
A customer, Miss Destiny Obeh, said she was able to withdraw N20,000 from Access Bank, as there were only a few customers at the bank.
“I don’t think many people are aware that banks are working today because the queue is very short, unlike during the weekdays.
“But people have started calling their friends and relatives to come to the bank to withdraw cash”.
Another customer, Mr Prince Efosa, said he was happy to have collected N10,000 from Zenith Bank without wasting much time at the bank.
“I usually spend up to three hours waiting to collect money at the bank, but today, I spent less time.
“I am happy that the cash crunch is easing off, the situation was really bad at the market yesterday (Sunday).
“Some Point of Sales (POS) operators at Ikpoba Hill Market charged as high as N4,000 to withdraw N10,000 yesterday, and this was really terrible,” he said.
Mrs Iyobosa Bello, while expressing happiness with the new development, urged the CBN to increase the daily withdrawal limits.
“I like the cashless policy, that is what I use for my cloth business but the network can be really bad sometimes, affecting transactions.
“I went to the market to buy goods two days ago but transfer did not work, I then went to the bank and I was told that I could only withdraw N10,000 which was not enough to pay for the goods I wanted to buy.
“I was unable to buy the items and I went home disappointed.
“So the CBN should make enough cash available and remove the daily withdrawal limits to enable small businesses like mine to grow for now”, she said.
In Warri, Delta, many of the commercial banks opened their doors to customers between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The source reports that most customers were able to withdraw between N10,000 and N40,000.
An official of one of the banks expressed joy at the smooth conduct of the exercise, adding that customers were happy with the development.
“We opened for operations at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday in line with the directive of the CBN. We disbursed the amount requested by the customers and we do not discriminate,’’ the staff said.
Mr Anthony Onajite, a customer, said he was able to withdraw the sum of N50,000 he filled out in his withdrawal slip.
In Asaba, it was, however, different as some banks did not open, though their ATMs were dispensing cash but had long queues.
Some of the customers, who spoke, said the CBN directive had reduced the sufferings caused by the currency swap in the last one month.
According to Mrs Jane Umukoro, I cannot remember the last time I used the ATM until today.
“I am so happy. I decided to give it a trial after closing from the church and within one hour, I was able to withdraw N10,000.’’
“I am happy to an extent because it has been a challenge even getting N2, 000.
“But today with less stress, I have been able to withdraw N10,000,’’ Philip Aka said.
In Yenagoa, the weekend operations helped to reduce the long queues usually being experienced at the banks and ATMs.
Checks at some of the banks within Yenagoa showed that the long queues had disappeared as most of the ATMs dispensed cash while customers also withdrew money across the counter.
Customers were able to withdraw cash ranging from between N15 000 and N30,000.
The Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBOPP), says efforts are being made to strengthen the existing procurement processes leading to the award of contracts and jobs execution in the state to enhance service delivery.
The Board chairman of the RSBOPP, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office in Port Harcourt, after a meeting with staff of the agency, last Friday.
Oko-Jaja who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that procurement had become a global issue, stressing that without a proper procurement plan, it would be difficult for any state or nation to move forward in the attainment of its developmental strategies and goals.
The chairman said that the Board had observed some improprieties in the procurement processes and assured that they would take every measure to ensure full compliance with the state procurement laws.
“We will ensure that the laws are followed and we have value for money. We must ensure that money is used for contract execution and not to enrich people’s pockets. We’ll ensure that the money being quoted for any job or contract corresponds with the prevailing market price. We are going to strengthen the monitoring and evaluating team of the Board to perform their duties; going to markets, verify the prices quoted for and also ensure compliance.
“We are going to look into the procurement laws to see how we can close the existing gaps noticed that are not in line with global practices. These measures will also affect local government councils in the state to ensure there is value for money and save money for the state government. And in doing so, the government can spread its services across the state and not in one place.
“His Excellency, the governor of the state has a mantra, “Rivers first”. We are going to ensure we assist him and the state government achieve this policy by ensuring that the procurement laws are complied with and things are done rightly. That is why we are here,” he said.
Oko-Jaja assured that members of the Board would justify the confidence reposed in them by the state governor for the benefit of the state.
Earlier, in an interactive meeting between Board members and staff of the agency, the Board chairman of RSBOPP told the excited workforce that the Board had approved the merger of some departments, namely Legal, Ethics Human Resources and the Facility Management departments to ensure maximum output and efficiency in service delivery.
He said that the Legal and Ethics departments had been merged as one department, adding the Human Resources and Facility Management departments had also been merged.
He told them that going forward every department would also be accountable for its responsibility and announced that the Board had also approved that conditions of service should be put in place for the staff of the agency so that they would grow like their counterparts in the state mainstream civil service.
Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Government says it would continue to address the needs of Civil Servants in the State.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the Rivers State Civil Service 2025 New Year Thanksgiving Service, at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said his Administration is willing and ready to do what will make Civil Servants happy, more hardworking, and more distinguished.
“I want to tell you that you have our ears, and you can tell because when the Head of Service gave his address, there were no demands because while you were yet asking, it was already executed. We want you to know that to whom much is given, much is expected. We do not take your love and support for granted.” Governor Fubara stressed.
The State Chief Executive urged Civil Servants to redouble and rekindle their energy to ensure that the Rivers State Civil Service becomes the envy of Civil Service in Nigeria, noting that the State Government is pleased to work as a family with Civil Servants.
He implored them to continue to uphold his Administration in prayers, which according to him has kept him thus far, adding that prayers would lead them for years to come while asking them to be proud of whom they are as Civil Servants.
In his address, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nweke, expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage, payment of Christmas bonus, improved retirement benefits, and creation of employment opportunities amongst others, as well as issuance of SME loans facility to deserving Civil Servants in the State.
Dr Nweke who said the theme of this year’s thanksgiving “Peace Be Still” reminds us that even amid turmoil and uncertainties you can find peace and calm in God’s presence while urging them to pray for continuous peace and development in the State.
In his sermon, the Dean Church of God, Anglican Communion, the Most. Rev. Blessing Enyindah who spoke on the theme “Peace Be Still” drawn from Mark 4:35-41, said storms of life may manifest in different ways and forms, causing us anxiety and sleepless nights but with Jesus Christ by our side, there is hope.
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