Cashless: Poor network stalls sales in Lagos, traders groan

The poor mobile service network at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex that houses three markets in Lagos, on Saturday stalled commerce, as traders complained of inability to transfer cash online.

The traders, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria at the close of business, said the problem was frustrating and unbearable.

They said many customers who bought goods with the hope of transferring cash online to pay for the items, waited for the debit alerts till the end of the day without success as purchased and packed goods were returned.

NAN reports that the introduction of the new redesigned N1,000, N200 and N500 notes and its slow-pace release in the system by commercial banks, as directed by the Federal Government, has been causing hardship to the people.

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The government said the cash shortage was to revamp the economy.

An article and confectionary distributor, Andrew Umeh, said the cashless policy that they have adopted was not helping matters because of poor network.

Umeh, who doubles as the Chairman of Line Heads, appealed to the authorities to come to their aid by improving the mobile network in the market to enable the commerce community trade.

“Since the government is finding it difficult to release cash to the system for reasons best known to them, they should please allow us to trade with better network service to encourage online cash transfers,” he said.

A Business Machine seller, Chijioke Duru, said trading had become herculean, as people who bought items as low ad N1,500 opted for online cash transfers.

Duru, who said he lost a transaction worth N700,000 because of lack of cash and poor mobile network to enable the customer make a transfer, said if the trend continues by next week, a huge protest will be imminent for many who are affected.

“We are tired of this frustration. Government should provide us with an alternative, soft-landing by ensuring that network is improved.

“Many of us rented these places with big amount of money with workers and levies to cater for. It is from the sales that we see money to foot these bills,” he said.

He noted that the market was virtually empty without customers because of the shortage of cash.

Elsewhere at a relaxation spot in Tedi, Ojo, Lagos, the same scenario was noticed, as issues ensued because of poor network as customers who purchased drinks and other items were unable to transfer cash online.

The altercation that poor network generated at the place led to the owners not allowing the customers to leave until they got an alert that did not come. It took the intervention of security operatives to settle the matter with signed agreement for the customers to pay the following day if the expected payment alert did not come.

NAN