BVN Registration: Customers desert banks upon extension in Ilorin

...as police tear gas First Bank customers

Drama played out in several bank premises on Tuesday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital as customers who had earlier struggled to register for their Banks Verification Numbers (BVN) and beat CBN deadline upon hearing announcement of the exercise extension, immediately left the banks in their numbers.

Prior to the announcement, customers in their thousands who had besieged the commercial institutions were seen scrambling and trying to outdo one another in a bid to register for the BVN before the banks’ closure.

However, immediately their attention were called to the exercise extension by some of those on the queue and subsequently confirmed by the bank’s officials, many customers immediately left their queue without hesitation.

Though, initially some customers restrained themselves doubting the information's source as they thought they were being deceived to leave their queue for some to take over. But upon confirming from banks officials, they quitted the queue.

It would be recalled that the Apex bank during the administration of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the bank governor launched the new policy in February 2014 in furtherance of its efforts to have a safe, reliable and efficient payment in the country.

Meanwhile, our reporters who went round the city to capture the situation reported that as early as 6.00am customers have started trooping to their separate banks to partake in the exercise being the last day earlier set by the CBN.

Prior to Tuesday, as a result of the crowd being witnessed, some banks had to rent tents and chairs for their customers to be comfortable and maintain orderliness. However, that soon became a story on the deadline day as the banks securities had hectic day controlling the crowd.

The situation got worse at the First Bank, Unity Road as the police attached to the bank fired tear gas on the customers when the crowd was becoming uncontrollable. The customers according to the security personnel were trying to force their ways into the bank.

Several customers who spoke with Pilot Business at the bank expressed their displeasure about how they were treated, noting that though they did not mind the stress involved in the exercise, yet the bank officials subjected them to untold hardship.

"It has not been easy because we are made to go through lot of stress. I have been here since 8.00am just about the time the bank resumes operation but it has not worked out. Imagine, this is 4.30pm and up till now i still could not register.

“Thank God the exercise has been extended by the CBN, the news came to us as a relief when it was announced not long ago and I am going home because I cannot withstand the stress anymore”, said Mrs Juliana Durojaiye.

Also speaking, one of the tear gased victims, Mrs Maimunat Yusuf who said while she was rushing out of the bank's premises in order to save her baby lamented that she lost N15,000 in the process.

Another customer at GTB, Mr. Wasiu Lanre said he got to the bank at 8.00am but he realised that there is no proper arrangement while only 2 staff are attending to them which makes the system slow.

Also, Mr. Haliru Olarotimi, a Customer with the First City Monument Bank, Taiwo road, described the postponement as a welcome development, adding that it would ensure millions of customers who would have been left out of the BVN exercise to register.

As at 7.00pm on Tuesday, Pilot Business observed that some banks in the metropolis were still attending to customers.

The deadline for the enrolment is extended from June 30 to October 31 by the CBN so as to allow other customers and those in the Diaspora ample time to enrol into the programme.

Meanwhile, the Branch Manager, First City Monument Bank, (FCMB), Mr Olayinka Olorundare has condemned the last minute rush of customers to register for the Bank Verification Number.

Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday in Osogbo, Olorundare decried low turnout of people since the beginning of the exercise.

"The BVN is important because it enable the bank to locate customers in case of any eventuality. Nigeria is a country where we don't have data and data is very important. Most Nigerians don't care. We always leave everything till last minute”, he said.

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