By InvestAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-There are indications that Bank Customers are making panic withdrawals ahead of the planned nationwide strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Civil Society Groups to protest the January 01 2012 removal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government.

www.investadvocateng.com visited a couple of Banks and noticed a high turnout and massive withdrawal by customers of Banks.

Sir Michael Okeh, a customer with a First generation Bank (name withheld) located at the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos said he came to make withdrawals following the directives of leaders of Organised Labour that Nigerians should prepare for a long drawn strike with the Federal Government.

“When they mentioned about the strike, I just decided to take some little money to keep body and soul alive, it is because of the planned strike; you cannot take chances in Nigeria today due to what is going on in the Country as at the moment.

We didn’t expect the removal of this fuel Subsidy, it is giving everybody concern, it is our country and we have to make sure we get the best out of it. Those ruling us should make sure that the masses are well taken care of; coming to the Bank to withdraw money, it is a way of equipping myself, if by next week the strike commences, it will be difficult to get money; because people will be stranded. You must have to hold unto something to take care of your family until the Government agrees to what the masses are lamenting over” Sir Okeh said.

For Kelvin Obaro, “I came here to cash the cheque given to me out of fear of the proposed strike by the NLC. People would want to get to the Bank and make withdrawals because of the strike and notwithstanding; the reason for the strike is for the good of all. It is a kind of preparation to rush to the Bank, get some money and prepare for the unexpected. It is not wrong for people to rush to the Bank to get prepared for the strike; it shows that Nigerians know what they want” Obaro said.

Also, at Intercontinental Bank Plc, Amuwo Odofin Branch, a woman who is a customer of the Bank name withheld told www.investadvocateng.com that she has simply come to the Bank to make withdrawals following the planned nationwide strike on the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

“I have simply come to make withdrawals because of the planned strike; some shops are closed around this area because of the removal of the fuel subsidy, some of our people that traveled are yet to come back; because they were caught unawares following the increase in transport fares after the Christmas and New Year celebrations; so I have just come to withdraw money and prepare myself for the unexpected” she said.  

At Diamond Bank Plc, Interland at the Amuwo Odofin area customers were unusually at a high number considered to the number visiting the Bank on previous occasions.

According to Ugochi Ijeh, a Businesswoman, she has come to the Bank to make withdrawal in preparation for the planned strike by the NLC.

“I have come to take some money for myself and family to prepare us for the planned strike, with the way things are going, I do not know what will happen, there is an air of uncertainty in Nigeria and one would not want to be caught unawares” she said.

However, a couple of customers say they have simply come to the Bank to withdraw money because they had no money before this time.

As at the time of filling in this Report, www.investadvocateng.com can authoritatively report that the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) through Comrade Olusoji Salako has directed all Banks and other financial Institutions to remain closed as the Association is fully in support of the Organised Labour planned strike on the removal of fuel subsidy to commence on Monday January 09 2012.