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Citizens Lament United Bank for Africa (UBA) Lousy Services in Anambra State, Nigeria
New York --- United Bank for Africa, Plc. (UBA) banking services in Anambra State of Nigeria has come under very serious criticism following the lousy treatment of its customers at the banks headquarters in Awka on Saturday March 14, 2009. Africans In America News Watch investigative team visiting Nigeria was in Awka and witnessed the incident unfold. Our team went to the bank located along Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, Awka at exactly 9.40 a.m. to transact some business and were told by the security men that the bank will open to the public at 10.00 a.m. and close at 2.00 p.m. so we joined other customers who assembled in the bank premises and waited for the bank to open. Between 10.00 am and 10.30 am, a lot of customers arrived at the bank and were waiting for the bank to open for business. At about 10.30 a.m. some staffs started to arrive for work and by 11.00 a.m., quite a number of staffs were on the premises; but, the bank was not yet open and there was no word as to the reason for the delay. Customers by then started to complain in whispers. Our team (Africans In America News Watch investigative team visiting Nigeria) approached some of the staffs and inquired on the reason for the delay and was told that they were waiting for the police security team to arrive before they will open the door to the public. By 11.30 a.m, a large crowd had formed in the bank premises and customers’ frustration were shown on their faces. Still no official word, or address from the bank officials to the customers as to what was going on. Our team saw some group of people identified by some of the regular customers as the senior staffs walking around aimlessly and approached them. They stated that their computer networking system was down and they were waiting for the system to come up before they will open the door to the public. They had no idea when the system will come on.
When our team inquired whether they will address the assembled customers to let them know what was going on, the senior staffs of the bank did not reply. Our team then asked for their names, and, almost in unison, they replied, “Who are you self? Don’t make us call the security to walk you out of here!” An elderly customer, a man who refused to give us his name stated proudly that he is President of Customary Court (Retired) and agreed to grant us a quick interview as long as we don’t ask for his name. Asked why he refused to give us his name, the man replied, “These are all my boys. I know all these people and they know me. I have done their seniors and some of them one favor or another and vice versa. This is Nigeria, I don’t want trouble.” When our team told him that putting his eloquent name on this article will send a powerful message to his boys and friends in the bank on kind of treatment meted out to everybody including him, the President of Customary Court (Retired) did not bulge. “I will talk to them privately later but not this way, young man”, he said with a smile. However, the President of Customary Court (Retired) decried the shabby services and treatment the bank is rendering in Anambra State especially. Persistent attempts to get this elderly fellow to give us his name with promises that it will not be used for our article were futile. “What you are asking me is deadly, this is Nigeria, I don’t want trouble”, repeated the elderly man and walked away. However, some customers were more courageous and gave us their and granted us interview on the record. They all felt that “Anambra state is getting the worst in everything”. One aggrieved and disappointed customers was Linus Ojiakor, a 3rd year Philosophy student at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. Another was Ikenna Okelue,a 1st year Political Science student at Anambra State University, Igboariam, Anambra State Another was Basil Okeke, a trader/businessman at Awka who stated that the bank services were better when it was Standard Trust Bank. He stated further that services became terrible since the bank merged with and became United Bank for Africa, Plc. (UBA). Basil Okeke added that the staffs will not allow customers to see their manger to lay complaints. Another customer was Ifunanya Ajegbu, a 3rd year Medical and Surgery student at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State. Our team also observed a gentleman who appeared distinguished by his demeanor, grace and from his movement. He did not say a word to anyone, yet, like every other customer on the bank premises, we saw the frustration registered on him. Our team approached him for interview. Yes, out team’s instinct was right because the man is a very important person in the society and a very important customer of the bank. He introduced himself as Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbu. A lady standing near-by described him as the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), meaning he is the head of a Police Division in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF); he is equivalent of Commander of Police Precinct in United States. In recognition of the delicate and sensitive roles of law enforcement officers, we will succinctly only state that Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbo was also recipient of the lousy treatment United Bank for Africa, Plc. (UBA) meted to their customers in Anambra state. “In Nigeria, we know a big man when we see them”, said our tour guide local Nigerian slang. Another very distinguished lady that granted us interview on the record was Mabel Obeleagu, Educator/Music Coordinator, Anambra State Universal Education Board. Mabel Obeleagu was disappointed at United Bank for Africa, Plc. (UBA) services because she had a wedding engagement to play keyboard, but has missed that appointment because she was stuck at the bank. In Nigeria educators are usually shy and conservative, but Madam Mabel Obeleagu graciously let out some steam, “It will be good if you people will air what is happening here in Anambra State so they will know and change the treatment they are giving us”, said the educator.
By the time our team left the bank at about 1.00 p.m., hundreds of disappointed and frustrated customers were on the premises while many more had left. We also observed many worried customers (local traders and businessmen) with very large plastic bags said to contain very large sum of Nigerian currency. People were really worried that the situation could attract armed robbers roaming around in the state. It is shocking to find out that United Bank for Africa, Plc. (UBA) said to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest bank in Nigeria, could put the lives of their customers and their money in such jeopardy. Africans In America News Watch investigation reveal that though the network system was down, the bank could still have found ways to serve the customers effectively. “Banks could still serve customers when network system is down. Banks were functioning before the computer era. They just have to do it manually, open their books and their registers; they may also have to buy phone cards and call other centers where the network is on and verify whatever customer information that needs to be verified. All it will cost the bank is a little money and time, and all the customers will be served, if they care”, said a central bank official who spoke to us on condition that his name will not be used. |
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