Working-class wives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday decried the inability to access cash prevented them from getting the desired Valentine’s Day treat from their spouses.

Some of the women who spoke in Abuja said the current naira scarcity in the country ruined their Valentine’s Day outings with their spouses.

Chelsea Ndubaku, a public servant, said she lost hope when her spouse, also a public servant, could not get cash from automated teller machines (ATMs).

“For the past five years that we got married, on Valentine’s Day, my husband usually took me out for some treats at night. I do not like going to restaurants to eat the usual. I like going to local joints to eat bush meat and local drinks,” stated Ms Ndubaku. “Yesterday, when we got to the joint, he tried to use the Point of Sale to pay when ATMs did not pay him but the network was too problematic.”

She added, “After so many trials, we decided to use the little cash we had to buy only drinks and left. I was so angry that I slept with the anger. He pleaded with me to understand because it was not his fault.”

Peace Agede said her birthday celebration coincided with Valentine’s Day but was disrupted due to cash scarcity.

“We usually celebrate Valentine’s Day together with my birthday. My hubby usually purchased gifts for me to celebrate the two events. This year, he simply told me he looked for cash everywhere but could not access it,” Ms Agede explained. “When I asked him if transfer was not also working, he said the one he did for someone has been pending, but he has been debited. He told me that he won’t do any other transfer till the one he did was resolved.”

Blessing Odeje, a housewife, appealed to the CBN and banks to collaborate and resolve the issues.

“We have not gotten to this cashless policy. I wanted to give my family a special Valentine’s Day surprise, but I was not able to purchase everything that I needed to do this,” said Ms Odeje. “This is because most traders in the market said they do not collect transfer, especially for very little items purchased. This is frustrating.”

(NAN)