When ATM ‘Shocks’ Bank Customer

Two days ago I needed to cash some money at the ATM by UBA Ogba, Lagos and as usual, I joined the line and was patient till it was my turn.

Two of the four machines were down for whatever reasons and the security man on duty already alerted the bank staff in charge and it was announced they would resume shortly but there was the usual apprehension.

At last it was my turn and I used the machine, then stepped aside. Immediately I realised I had to withdraw more.

The lady behind me already stepped forward, so I obliged her. Few seconds after, she raised the alarm.

“Any problem?” I asked. “The machine just shocked me,” she said.

The next customer stepped back and went for the other functioning machine. Nobody wants to get electrocuted.

I moved closer to observe and quickly completed my transaction knowing there was nothing wrong with the machine.

I told her I just used the machine again. She insisted she was shocked.

Then I looked at her from head to toe and toe back to head. Immediately I knew what had happened. She wasn’t telling a lie.

I said “It must shock you.” She looked at me like an enemy. I said “You are not insulated and perhaps your fingers are wet so it is possible you get shocked,” I explained.

Other customers left us and were taking turns to use the other functioning machine.

I explained the simple science further that “You are not wearing slippers so it will still shock you.”

She was wearing a white garment though but science is governed by natural laws which are spiritual in their own levels. I guess she attends the Celestial Church.

She argued further, “It’s not today I’ve been using the ATM in my white garment.”

I dared her, “I’m explaining simple science to you and you’re still arguing, touch it again if it won’t shock you.”

Then she opted for the machine that is touch screen, withdrew her cash and walked away as other customers laughed.

I like her for one thing. She was so confident and didn’t get embarrassed within the few minutes we interacted. But confidence is just not enough to bamboozle natural scientific principles.

Then this brings me back to my argument that science should be compulsory in primary schools, junior secondary schools and first year of the senior secondary school.

This is because the present day Nigeria parades an army of youths so deficient in simple scientific knowledge. A lot also know nothing about geography, yet they parade university degrees.

These are natural knowledge that are needed in our daily operations, they help our reasoning.

I even learnt that Biology as a subject is now no more compulsory in some secondary schools. If this is true, then we must be ready to have ignorant youths to deal with in near future.

The government as a matter of urgency should consciously review the school curriculum and fix the missing gaps which are already telling on the society.

Thankfully History was recently returned as a subject the absence of which would have further damaged the sense of history in our system.

Also, the government should ensure the training and recruitment of qualified teachers for all subjects being offered in primary and secondary schools because the quality of teachers must definitely reflect on the output of the students.