The Federal Competition and Consumer and Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reportedly sealed up a Chinese supermarket in Abuja for allegedly denying Nigerians access.
The Chinese supermarket which is situated at the China General Chamber of Commerce in the Federal Capital territory was said to have been restricted to only Chinese nationalities while Nigerians were not allowed into the supermarket to shop. However, both the security personnel and some other staff at the supermarket are Nigerians.
This was confirmed by the facility manager of the complex Shaibu Sanusi who stated that Nigerians from outside the complex do not shop but Nigerians within can access it.
Following a discovery of the supermarket by a Nigerian who shared his experience and grievances on social media last weekend, many Nigerians took to their timelines to express their opinion about the development, making a fuzz on the online space while mostly asserting that such policy was discriminatory against Nigerians in their own country.
Several Nigerians on the social media space also called on the Nigerian government to quickly clamp down on the Chinese supermarket stating that such practices would not be tolerated even in China or elsewhere in the world.
Sharing a video of some Nigerians who recently visited the Chinese General chamber and were denied access to the supermarket by the security personnel who was also Nigerian but explained to them that they were not permitted to access the supermarket, a Twitter user, Mike Sonto shared his opinion in a post. He wrote,
“Sometimes Africa is let down by its own leaders. There is a Chinese supermarket in Nigeria that Nigerian customers aren’t allowed to enter. Now imagine a black man owning a very big supermarket in China and does the same thing?”
Popular social media critic Daniel Regha also shared his opinion stating that “a Chinese supermarket denying Nigerians entry to their premises is not insulting but ridiculous.” He added that it is “racial discrimination being done in broad daylight” and advocated for the place to be “shutdown & the owner(s) sanctioned by the federal govt.”
Another user, Daniel Peter said,
“How utterly ridiculous and insulting it is to witness such blatant racial discrimination being carried out in broad daylight. The actions of this establishment are not only offensive but also a clear violation of the principles of equality and non-discrimination.”
However, in what seemed like solidarity with the Chinese, a user identified as @Manvirvs while reacting to Daniel Regha’s statement asked if he was aware of the total debt Nigeria owes the Chinese government.
He wrote, “Haffa bros you better chill, You know how much nigeria dey owe china? Those people fit buy our country oo.”
Following the numerous online protests, officials of the Federal Competition and Consumer and Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Monday, reportedly stormed the Chinese General chamber and sealed up the said supermarket.
According to reports, the supermarket was sealed up after the FCCPC officials who stormed the premises were done interrogating Nigerian workers at the supermarket.
While the supermarket remains shut, the consumer protection agency seems to believe that some people are hiding inside in a bid to avoid confrontation with the agency.
