Banks in the Bwari Area Council and along the airport road in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, remained closed over #endbadgovernance protest today, leaving customers stranded. The closures were a result of ongoing protests against bad governance, which began in the early hours of the day.
Visits to several banks revealed that they were locked, with security officers barricading customers from accessing the banking halls. A private security guard at First Bank of Nigeria stated, “We are not open yet, we are still waiting for the order to do so.” When asked why the bank remained closed at 9:30 am, he replied, “Today is different, you know what is happening in the country now.”
Other affected banks included Zenith Bank, Polaris, Unity, and FCMB. Frustrated customers were unable to access cash, with one lamenting, “This is unfortunate. I have been standing here for hours waiting for money, but nothing is forthcoming.”
The streets were deserted due to fear of violence erupting from the protest, and the major market in Bwari was also affected, with many residents opting for panic buying instead of venturing out. A Point of Sale operator, Matilda, said, “I’m not in a hurry to open my shop this morning because many persons are still in their homes. People are not moving about now.”
Along the airport road, banks such as GT Bank, Stanbic IBTC, United Bank of Africa, and Zenith Bank were shut, with staff instructed to stay at home. Security presence was heavy, and customers were turned back. Automated Teller Machine stands were also closed.
The closures were based on a directive from the headquarters of all banks, with a security official stating, “All the banks here didn’t open today. It was based on a directive from the headquarters of these branches.”
