OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR LAMIDO SANUSI

Hello sir,

I hope it's not too early to thank you for the good job we are expecting you to do before the end of your tenure as Governor of our country's main power house. And I definitely hope it wouldn't be too much trouble if I crave your indulgence in an issue that is affecting us (the masses) directly which you might not notice in the course of tackling larger issues.
In Nigerian Banks today, indeed it is very easy to open an account; as easy as just being at the bus-stop at the right time. But after the account opening, it gets very ugly. Charges that were not mentioned at account opening start springing out of no where. Ridiculous among these charges are ledger fees (what's that by the way?), ATM maintainance charges at the end of every month, internet access charge and these are just to mention a few.
It is absolutely not a problem for one to be in business and try to remain in business, but I bet it is a crime to do so by dubious means. Bank officials are also believed to connive with fraudsters to make away with people's hard earned money.
At this point, I wish to restrain from saying more so as not to say too much but I strongly believe that in your wisdom, you already understand our plight beyond my explanation and we would be standing by to watch you act promptly before the situation gets out of hand.

Signed
Honorable Alugo Abdulazeez

UNSCRUPULOUS BANK CHARGES AND THE NIGERIAN FACTOR

Before now, people have explored different means of keeping their hard earned money safe. We've heard of people digging a hole in the ground, people hiding cash under their pillow and so on. There have also been legends of how some pirates keep treasures in isolated places and guard it with unfathomable spirits and curses that attack whomever dares to approach. All these means were explored by our fore fathers and they found peace of mind from it. Infact, that is the whole essence of it; peace of mind. However, with the advent of technology and civilization, the banking system was conceptualized and banks sprung up in different parts of the world. That would be the Genesis in brief.
In Nigeria, after the consolidation of the banking sector, there was a lot of competition amongst the banks and they were all out to impress the standing and prospective clients and they were launching packages to outwit one another (like the telecommunication companies are doing presently). They needed to increase their customer base to prove that they were doing fine and so they lured unsuspecting individuals with their enticing offers ranging from zero account balance, to free ATM cards and so on. All the while, the Nigerian factor was been manipulated.

Now you ask. What is the Nigerian factor?

Nigerians are probably the most intelligent people on earth and I'm proud to be born Nigerian. However I'll not fail to point out that we ahve always failed to utilize the potentials that we possess.For example, it is in Nigeria that we use our own intelligence to out-maneuver other Nigerians who are as intelligent if not more, than we us. Then the more intelligent Nigerian naturally identifies when they are been cheated but what do they do? They either idly sit on the issue and let it go or worse still, they talk about it amongst themselves without actually confronting the culprit. If you know what degree of intelligence it takes to uncover another intelligent man's moves, then you'ld probably know what I'm talking about.
The Nigerian factor goes further in a situation where a policeman pick up a citizen on the street and takes him to the police station. At the counter, they laid all sorts of allegations on him to declared him under arrest (and of course he was innocent). the Nigerian factor comes in where this citizen can see clearly right behind the man at the counter, an inscription that reads 'BAIL IS FREE' and he still manages to pay the police for his bail even though he was dubiously charged for a crime he did not commit. If you think you're wasting your time when you stand in the middle of the road and challenge a police man that infringes on your right, that's the Nigerian Factor at its best.
By now, you should know what I mean by the Nigerian Factor but if you still don't, then I give you one more instance. The Nigerian Factor is in play when you sign a piece of paper in a bank for account opening and you specifically stated that you don't want SMS notifications and yet they send it to you and charge you for it and you do nothing about it saying you don't like trouble. The Nigerian Factor is when you don't bother to write a long (if necessary) letter to the Branch Manager of your bank on issues that affect your account and state in the final paragraph that you intend to seek legal redress if necessary.
Finally, it is the Nigerian Factor, if we just raise this issue and don't get it to a logical conclusion.
To the banks, I say, the customers might not always be right, but the CUSTOMERS HAVE RIGHTS.

RIPPING US OFF SOFTLY...

Banks are meant to be institutions where people save their money for varying periods of time. People also run business accounts with the banks by depositing and taking out money as often as they like. The banks in turn can use the money saved with them to engage in transactions and deals that will yield some profit. Normally, Banks provide a lot of information for their customers that can change their lives. A bank can help set a customer up in business by giving out loans and tips about how to make the business succeed. At the end of the day, it is the bank that will gain more by getting good interest on the money that the customer borrowed.

In Nigeria, Banks are gradually become a law unto themselves. A good number of them are deducting money from the accounts of their customers for providing them basic services like text notifications, e-mails, ATM services, provision of withdrawal slips and booklets [ very ridiculous ], account maintenance fees, inter-State withdrawals, cashing cheques etc etc. It is saddening that many bank customers are not informed of these charges when they are opening their accounts. This spurious deductions are carried out without consideration for the feelings of the customers. Yet, we are supposed to be in a democracy in Nigeria. The Bank workers who are stealing their customers blind are the same people that complain about corrupt Politicians and Policemen. Who id fooling who here?

Nigerian Banks have to realize that there other ways of making money. They need to stop fleecing their customers. These are the same banks that have largely failed to inspire Nigerian youths and graduates to become entrepreneurs by investing in them. And yet, when these same youths and graduates they ignored save money with them, they charge them all kinds of ridiculous amounts of money. Enough is Enough. Nigerian Bank Customers have decided to do something about their plight. That is why this blog was created this morning. God is on our side concerning this campaign. Feel free to join us. This blog is for all of us. We need your support and ideas. The battle to stop unjustified bank charges in Nigeria has started!!!