MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BANKING SYSTEM IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA AS A WOMAN WHO USES THE FACE VEIL (NIQAAB)
It was on Monday morning, 14th April, 2025 when my co-co and I stepped into the banking hall of one of the conventional banks to sort out some issues. At the entrance, the security officer ( male) made it known to us that I might be asked to take off/raise my niqaab once I’m indoors. In fact, we regretted not getting facemasks should we encounter any problem with the bank and it’s disposition towards the niqaab. My co-co even offered to give me her face towel but I said there was no need till we’re in the hall.
Once in, a female security officer just stopped us and said in a very mean and condescending manner, ‘Remove that thing from your face. Nobody will attend to you if you don’t remove that thing’. My co-co tried explaining and talking to her calmly and even making small jokes with her, but she was adamant and that was when my head also ‘sparked’.
I went to her and told her in my most English diction, ‘First, what you call ‘that thing’ has a name. It is called ‘niqaab’. And why should I take it off?’ By then, a customer care officer had joined her and started stating that it is the bank’s policy they’re simply following as the bank doesn’t allow those wearing niqaab into the premises’.
I responded with, ‘Alright, since it’s the bank policy, definitely, it’ll be officially stated somewhere, can I see where it is documented, so that I can just simply close down my account here if the bank deems me not fit to be their customer?’
She then said, ‘Hajia, it’s not fight now, as you can see, I’m smiling and trying to make you understand. I believe you’re exposed…’
‘And that’s more reason I’m highly disappointed in this bank. In this age and stage in 2025 Kano State, we’re still battling with this when you can simply make provisions for special customers like me’.
Yes, I was ready for a fight. I went there prepared. I went there rehearsing what answers to give to any confrontation. I went there with one of my ‘correctest’ jilbaab and my sallah shoes. At least, when they try to rate my social status, they would be confused especially with my deliberate Queens elocution( I pronounced the ted in disappointed as/tid/ not /ted/ and other words that the average Nigerian does not bother about). I still have PTSD from what happened at Ado Bayero mall last year and I’ll not allow anyone bully me again because of my niqaab without a fight.
Before I knew it, I was handed a form to fill with regards my complaint. I then went to the inner section where I’ll be attended to. I overheard the security officer woman telling one of the bankers that Mr so and so had already said he wouldn’t attend me if I don’t remove my niqaab.
At this time, my co-co was also pissed off and was sad that her phone was off( mine too), else she would have recorded all the rubbish they were doing.
When I got to the Mr so and so, he went through my form and through my thumb print, he verified the account. Then came, ‘You have to lift your veil for me to identify you’. Calmly, respectfully, politely but firmly, I requested, ‘Could you please ask any of your female colleague to do that for me?’
‘If I get a female to ID you, there would be no problem, right?’, he inquired.
‘Absolutely not’, I responded, ‘That’s the only favour I ask’. He then asked his female colleague to do that and we were done.
Before he finally agreed though, he said how would he know that I was the one, and my co-co replied with, ‘Her details filled in the form is the same as on the screen and her thumb print accessed the account’. He then smiled this, ‘That was a caught’ smile.
The next banker who was to activate my ATM card wanted to also try after I had been verified. He said, ‘What if it was your twin sister who owns the account? We’ve had cases like that’ Sharply, I replied, ‘My twin sister and I wouldn’t have the same fingerprint, right?’ He proceeded to conclude the process, I thanked him and the lady who verified me and we waltzed out of the bank.
Happy customer, happy/disgruntled bank. Whatever.
Maryooma Maryam Ikaki Umm Maymoonah