By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Luka Binniyat, the national spokesman for the Middle Belt Forum, has raised concerns about what he sees as unfair admission policies in some universities in the north.

Speaking in an interview with Punch, Luka Binniyat mentioned that his child who is from the Christian North scored 240 in JAMB and was not allowed to study Medicine at Ahmadu Bello University located in Zaria, Kaduna State.

However, he said a student from Zamfara State who scored as low as 120 was admitted into the university for the same course.

He queried how such a system could promote unity in the north?

In Luka Binniyat’s exact words: “How can my child, who is from the Christian North, score 200 in JAMB or 240 points in JAMB, and he cannot study Medicine at Ahmadu Bello University, but a child from Zamfara State who scored 120 is allowed to study Medicine? How can there be unity?”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Banks have commenced implementation of the new Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fee charge on customers following the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) directive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored some banks’ ATM gallery in Abuja and environs on Sunday, reports that some customers were lamenting about the increase.

All the banks’ ATM visited had monies loaded in them.

Mr Luke Abudu, a customer seen at First Bank along Nyanya-Jikwoyi road, said the implementation would only affect the poor masses who were struggling to make a living.

Abudu said the move would discourage customers from lodging monies in the banks.

”I came to withdraw N20,000 but I found out that I was charged N100 for the withdrawal.

‘”This is too much for a small business owner like me,” he said.

Another customer, Mrs Victoria Adejo, seen at Zenith Bank, Mararaba branch said that withdrawal from Point of Sale (PoS) agent was now cheaper than using an ATM.

”It is unfortunate that our government formulate policies without feeling the pulse of the people.

”I read that the CBN said the decision is in response to rising cost and to improve efficiency of ATM services but banks still bill us for service charge.

”They (banks) declare profit in billions and trillions from our monies and the CBN does not consider that.

”This is not good enough at all, ” she said.

Mr Nurudeen Ehimotor, a customer at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Asokoro, said he was at the bank to use the ATM due to the bank’s poor online network.

”I came to use ATM because I tried to transfer money from my bank using USSD since yesterday but it didn’t go through.

”I have an issue with my app, so I have been using USSD codes for my transfer.

”I think they (the bank’s) are trying to make people use ATM now for them to make more money,” he said.

Ehimotor appealed to banks to reduce incessant charges on customers account.

NAN reports that the CBN had on Feb. 10, released a circular to all banks and other financial institutions to apply the fees with effect from March 1.

CBN in the circular with title ‘Review of ATM transaction fees’ said the move was in response to rising cost and the need to improve efficiency of ATM services in the banking industry.

On-Us (customers withdrawing at the ATM of the customer’s financial institution) in Nigeria, no charge.

”Not-on-Us ( withdrawal from another institution’s ATM) in Nigeria; On-site-ATMs: A charge of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal.

”Off-site ATMs: A charge of N100 plus a surcharge of not more than N500 per N20,000 withdrawal.

”The income which is an income of the ATM acquirer/deployer, shall be disclosed at point of withdrawal to the consumer,” it said.

Meanwhile, banks had informed their customers through various electronic mails (e-mails) of the increase.

GTB told its customers in addition to the ATM transaction fee, that the free monthly withdrawals usually enjoyed by them would no longer be applied.

”Please note that the three free monthly withdrawals at other banks’ ATMs (for GTBank customers) and GTBank ATMs ( for other bank customers) will no longer apply,” the bank said.

Also, Access Bank in their official X handle told customers that ”All Access Cards now work seamlessly across all ATMs and POS machines, so you can make payments without hassle”.