Despite the directives by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) compelling commercial banks to make cash available in ATMs, the situation in Katsina State has worsened.

The cash shortage Is crippling business activities, transportation, and the general standard of living.

When The Nation visited business outlets, central markets, and POS operators across the state, the common response was “No cash, No cash.”

Alhaji Abubakar Kaikai, a major POS operator, shared that only a few banks, particularly comply with CBN directives by dispensing cash, while most others managed to dispense ?10,000 or none at all.

He said: ‘’Only when there is deposits to a bank will such a bank dispense cash, they always complain poor cash receipts from Cbn often prevents them from filling their ATMs.

‘’For instance, FCMB bank has for the past four months failed to dispense cash to its customers,I am even considering closing my account with them.

‘’Most of these commercial banks often complain that the ration they gets from the CBN is hardly enough to share to their other branches.

‘’CBN must increase the financial allocations to commercial banks and promptly sanction banks that fails to come for withdrawals from them regularly, because these banks always blame the CBN for poor dispensation of cash to their customers. ’’

The POS operator further revealed that borrowing cash from filling stations has become their survival strategy, as most banks have ceased dispensing cash to customers. (The Nation)