‘ATMs to hit 70,000 in five years’

Global leaders in information technology (IT) solutions providers, Wincor Nixdorf AG, yesterday said the number of automated teller machines (ATMs) deployed to serve customers in the country would grow from its current 11,000 pieces to 70,000 pieces over the next five years.

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the firm, Eckard Heidloff, who spoke in Lagos during the formal opening of its representative office in the country, said Nigeria holds huge growth prospect on the continent, adding that her population of over 165 million and vast human and material resources make the country the leader of the continent. He said the growing banking sector presents vast interest in new technologies for the country.

He said opening a representative office in Nigeria is not an attempt to compete with its dealers, but an attempt to be closer to the customers and get on-the-spot feed back on how they could better be served.

“Nigeria is one of the most strongly growing economies in the world. Here we’re the market leader in our business, and needed to be directly available to our customers in order to support and advise them. This step is an expression of our commitment to the importance of the Nigerian market, and at the same time, the continuation of our global expansion strategy,” Heidloff said.