The operators spoke on the development in separate interviews with journalists in Calabar on Tuesday.
They attributed the hike to their inability to get cash from banks easily.
They said that they paid an extra cost to be able to get cash to keep their business going.
They, however, feared that the 100 percent hike could be child’s play compared to what might happen should the situation persist.
Charges for N5,000 and N10,000 withdrawals, which used to be N100 and N200, respectively, were hiked to N200 and N400.
Eno Umoh, an operator, appealed to residents to understand the current charges, saying that operators were not responsible for the ugly situation.
“We are simply trying to remain afloat in business and ensure we continue to serve our customers. We understand the present economic realities, but we are paying so much to get cash to keep the business running. It’s not all about profit making as people would think,” Ms Umoh said.
Another operator, Lisa Eyo, said the situation became more challenging last week, adding that getting cash had become difficult.
Ms. Eyo recently stated that the banks are not providing cash due to their claim of lack of cash in their vaults. As a result, she agreed with some filling stations and supermarkets to obtain cash. However, she has to pay something in return, which she recovers by increasing her charges. In the meantime, most ATMs in the capital city are not dispensing cash. The few functional ATMs have crowds of customers scrambling to withdraw.
Furthermore, the ATMs that are loaded with cash only dispense between N5,000 and N10,000. Residents and bank customers expressed disappointment over the cash crunch, stating that it was happening in the wrong period. They fear that the naira scarcity in Calabar will worsen the economic difficulty and make life more miserable, especially with Christmas around the corner.