BANKS’ EARLY CLOSURE
Already, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), one of the leading financial institutions in the country, has notified its customers of its intention to close four hours ahead of its usual period on Monday. “The current shortage of petroleum products in the country has limited our ability to supply diesel to all our branches in order to continue normal branch operations,” read a statement issued by the bank late Sunday. “Due to this, we unavoidably have to close our branches nationwide at 1pm on Monday, May 25, 2015. Whilst we have had to take this step to close branch operations early, we would like to seek your understanding at this time.” GTB is not alone. Sterling bank has since issued a similar message to its customers; new closure time is 2pm.
RADIO STATIONS
Additionally, City 105.1 FM, Naija 102.7 FM and Beat 99.9 FM, three popular radio stations in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos, also announced the shutdown of services due to the situation on Sunday. The stations, which normally operate on 24 hours basis, appealed to their listeners over the suspension of activities. While Beat FM and Naija FM went off air around 8:30pm, City FM suspended its activities at 12 midnight.
TELCOS’ ALERT
In the same manner, Airtel and MTN, two notable global system of mobile communications providers in the country, also lamented the consequence of the scarcity, warning that if the situation persists, it would affect their services. “Airtel limited wishes to inform our customers and the general public that the prevailing situation in the country regarding the scarcity of diesel and other petroleum products is presently impacting negatively our commitments to delivering best-in-class quality of service and seamless telephony experience to all Nigerians,” a statement issued by the company on Sunday, read. Meanwhile, MTN took to its Twitter account (@MTNNG) to write: “We are also concerned that, if the situation persists, it may have adverse effects on our network, impacting both voice and data services. If diesel supplies are not received within the next 24 hours, the network will be seriously degraded and customers will feel the impact.” Akinwale Goodluck, corporate services executive of the company, then issued another statement, saying: “The management of MTN states that the current diesel scarcity in most parts of Nigeria is posing a significant threat to quality of service and the ability to optimally operate the network. “Most of our base stations and switches are powered round-the-clock by diesel generators and the current fuel shortage has drastically reduced the availability of diesel supply to key locations. “MTN’s available reserves of diesel are running low and the company must source for a significant quantity of diesel in the very near future to prevent a shutdown of services across Nigeria.”
SCHOOLS, TOO…
It is the same story for Chrisland School, Lagos, which announced that the mid-term break initially scheduled for Tuesday May 26, 2015, will now begin on Monday May 25, due to prevailing shortage of diesel. “We wish to inform you that due to the prevailing situation in the country on fuel scarcity, the primary and high schools will be closing for mid-term break on Monday 25 May 2015,” it said. AND AIRLINES On Sunday, Arik airline, Nigeria’s biggest carrier, operated only one-third of its schedule, canceling all domestic flights on Saturday. Ola Banji, spokesman of the organisation, told Bloomberg that flights to Heathrow in England and New York, needed to stop over for fuel in Kano. Also, Aero Contractors Limited, the second- largest carrier in the country, could not operate at its usual capacity. “All our flights will not operate regularly as scheduled due to fuel scarcity,” it wrote on its website.
Source: THE CABLE
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