Several individuals have turned to social networking platforms to recount their encounters following a trip to a Chinese supermarket in Abuja, where Nigerians are reportedly not allowed to make purchases.
The supermarket, located at the China General Chamber of Commerce along Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road, is known for its Chinese cuisine and beverages.
Some Nigerians who visited the supermarket made videos as they shared their experiences online and called on the federal government to take action
This latest development has however sparked a wave of criticism, with many condemning the actions of the supermarket management and highlighting the irony of a Chinese-owned establishment in Nigeria excluding its host citizens.
Chinese Supermarket’s Story Confirmed
A Punch correspondent visited the Chinese supermarket to verify the reports and encountered a restriction on shopping.
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The security personnel at the entrance informed the correspondent that the supermarket’s management had implemented this directive at the start of the year without providing any explanation.
“We were not informed of any reason for the policy, but we have told them to remove all adverts from the Internet so that people would stop coming,” the security personnel said.
One of the officers, who didn’t wear his name tag and declined to disclose his name, said prospective shoppers who are not Chinese are turned back at the gate as directed by the management.
The officer said, “For now, they (management) have stopped everything. The truth is that they are selling, but they said our people should stop coming. They said only Chinese individuals are allowed to shop here. The shop is only meant for Chinese people. People were allowed to come in throughout last year, but since January, they changed the policy and directed that no Nigerian is allowed to enter.
“We were not informed of any reason for the policy, but we have told them to remove all adverts from the Internet so that people would stop coming.”
Punch’s correspondent was, however, allowed entrance because, according to the officer, “Today is Sunday, and you are covered with grace.”
A variety of imported and domestic groceries, beverages, and necessities were displayed on the shelves at Villa 7’s grocery store without any price labels.
One of the attendants, who speaks the Yoruba language, expressed shock that a Nigerian was allowed to gain entry, noting that “Maybe they allowed because you didn’t come with a car.”
She went on to reveal that Nigerian individuals were prevented from entering by the authorities without any explanation provided.
The supermarket’s attendant also noted that “Yes, Nigerians are not allowed to enter the supermarket. Only people who work on the premises are allowed to shop here. There are reasons but we don’t know because it was not like this before. I don’t know how they allowed you in, maybe because you didn’t come with a car. They would never allow anyone who comes with a car to enter the premises.”
The Senior Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Nicholas Utsalo chose not to provide a statement, stating that it is protocol for only the Executive Vice Chairman to speak to the press.
Instead, he requested access to the video footage and assured the public that an investigation into the allegations would be conducted.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afam Osigwe, expressed disapproval of the action, likening it to racism and stressing the importance of increased awareness and steps to combat such discriminatory conduct.
He called on the government to promptly intervene and conduct a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents from occurring nationwide.
He said, “It is worrisome that a foreign-owned business in Nigeria would discriminate against nationals of a country by denying them entrance.
“Everything is wrong with any business opening and then applying a system likened to racism in the United States where blacks and other colored persons were not allowed into public transport vehicles and even into business spaces.
“This act is very condemnable. No foreign-owned businesses in Nigeria should deny access to their premises. It is wrong, and the Nigerian government should look into it to ensure that such a thing doesn’t happen anywhere in the country.”
