By IBUKUN EMIOLA

Some bank customers in Ibadan have lamented the hardship caused by persistent network failures in recent times, saying the situation has delayed electronic transfers and affected business activities.

The customers made their concerns known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Saturday.

According to them, the disruption in the banking network operations witnessed in the course of the week has affected transactions greatly.

Some of the respondents described how unsuccessful or delayed transactions had created distrust between buyers and sellers.

One of the customers who sells electronics at Bashorun, Mr Korede Ogundele, said network challenges often delayed payments made through bank transfers.

Ogundele said, “the delays sometimes made sellers suspect customers of attempting to defraud them, particularly when successful transaction alerts were not received promptly”.

He said the situation had made ordinary purchases stressful, as customers were sometimes required to wait for transactions to be confirmed.

Similarly, a businessman, Mr Mayowa Oluyinka, said poor banking networks had affected trading activities and resulted in financial losses.

“I even entered the banking hall thinking that would help, but it is the same issue of no network,” he said.

Oluyinka expressed hope that banking operations would improve soon to prevent further disruptions to business activities.

A food stuff seller, Mr Samson Ayodele, said, transaction process had become more laborious as tension heightened between sellers and buyers.

“This has been a frequent experience lately and it is not helpful at all. So, I am left to choose between selling while hoping the transaction would go or forfeiting the sale,” Ayodele said.

NAN correspondent also observed that many customers at the popular Kunle Ara Pharmacy who wanted to transfer were asked to pay in cash.

One of the customers, who didn’t mention her name, said that even the Point of Sale (POS) operators outside the pharmacy ran out of cash making it difficult for those wanting to buy medication.

The customers called for improved banking services to reduce delays and restore confidence in electronic payment transactions.

A bank officer, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that network challenges had affected banking operations, saying customers across different banks were experiencing difficulties.

The officer suggested that improvements in banking systems and infrastructure were necessary to enhance transaction efficiency.

“Only a few banks have invested in technology that makes transaction processing hitch free. And this is because it is costly to do so.

“Only transactions within the same banks are going through and also transactions to some fintechs are going through as well because the fintechs in a way have invested in latest technologies that are helping transactions.

“Though sometimes they are caught up in the network issues too.

“The problem with mainstream banks is sometimes with the network of the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) because we have not been able to verify customers BVN so that also compounds the situation,” the officer said. (NAN)