In Umuahia, Abia State, some banks and petrol stations initially evaded the repercussions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike on Tuesday by resisting compliance with the two-day nationwide warning strike organized by the labor unions.

While a handful of banks in the town provided limited services, including cash withdrawals within their premises and through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), others chose to completely suspend their services.

However, upon receiving word that an enforcement team from the NLC was en route to monitor and potentially picket their establishments, the banks that had initially opened for business promptly ceased their services, instructing their customers to depart immediately.

During a visit by Vistanaij Media to the primary branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA) near the Government House at 10 am, the bank was still attending to customers.

However, by 11 am, three bank officials emerged to inform customers that they could no longer be served.

“Dear customers, we are sorry to inform you that we can’t continue today. We have been open since today, even when many other banks closed. But the information we received now indicates that we should close immediately. We are sorry to inform you that you should come back on Thursday because we want to comply with the NLC strike,” one of the bank officials told the customers.