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No-Nigerian shopper: Chinese operator risks sanctions as FG shuts Abuja supermarket
Due to its policy of excluding Nigerians and limiting access for Chinese nationals, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission closed a Chinese store in Abuja.
The commission announced that it would use "regulatory tools" against the management and that it had called the owner of the supermarket on Airport Road to appear before it on Wednesday.
The commission issued the decision on Monday in response to complaints from Nigerians alleging discriminatory practices, which were the subject of discreet investigations and inquiries.
Authorities said the supermarket's operator faces penalties if found in violation.
The supermarket said on Sunday that it had put into place a contentious policy that limited admission to Chinese citizens only, excluding Nigerians from shopping there.
Nigerians expressed their disapproval of the unequal handling of this policy on numerous social media channels, leading to widespread condemnation.
Upon their visit to the site on Monday, however, commission representatives under the direction of Director for Surveillance and Investigation Boladale Adeyinka stated that the commission's goal was in reaction to the widely shared footage of Nigerians purportedly facing discrimination and being refused entry to an Abuja supermarket.
Adeyinka claimed at the conclusion of the enforcement that Cindy Liu Bei, the Chinese woman who owned the grocery, and her family had gone on Monday at 8:26 am, as seen on the closed-circuit television camera.
"The main goal of our surveillance and investigation today is to confirm the claims made in that widely shared video," the speaker stated.
"Upon our arrival, we observed that the supermarket directly behind me had been sealed and had an external padlock. Yes, according to inquiries, given that this grocery was open and occupied this morning.
CCTV recordings
"We have been able to identify the supermarket owner by name, and we have her contact information," the CCTV tape further reveals. "In the morning, two vehicles that are purportedly carrying her left from these very premises."
She further stipulated that the compound would stay locked unless the owner showed up before the commission tribunal.
The summons is to give notice on her to appear before the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission by Wednesday, of course, since she is not there and the location is locked.
If she disregards this summons, more regulatory measures will be taken. Because that is how they acquire access to it, the summons means that upon entering these premises, they must view the summons, the speaker explained.
The Chinese owner would be required to come before the panel, according to the commission's mandate, if she neglected to respond to the summons, which is a legitimate investigation.
After then, the supermarket was sealed by FCCPC officers. The Chinese shop in Abuja had shuttered earlier in the day due to criticism of its divisive policies.
Upon arrival at the location on Monday at 9.10 am, one of our reporters noted that the grocery shop was locked and secured against theft, and no one was inside the building at any point during the day.
Nigerians voice grievances.
The event happened as a result of complaints made by Nigerians who were upset over a Chinese supermarket's discriminatory entry restrictions, which were only open to their countrymen.
The grocery store on Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Road (Airport Road) in Abuja is well-known for its Chinese food and drink offerings.
When our correspondent went to the supermarket on Sunday to verify the veracity of the claim, security guards at the gate verified that the store's management had issued the order at the start of the year without providing an explanation.
Prospective customers who were not Chinese were redirected at the entrance by management, according to one of the guards who disregarded his name tag and would not give it.
"They [management] have stopped everything for the time being," the officer stated. Although they claimed that our people should cease visiting, the truth is that they are selling. They stated that this store is only open to Chinese customers. Only Chinese people are supposed to shop there. While entry was permitted for the entire previous year, beginning of January 1, no Nigerian is permitted to enter, according to a policy change.
"We have instructed them to take down all advertisements from the Internet in order to discourage people from visiting, but we were not given any explanation for the policy."
But the officer said, "Today is Sunday, and you are covered with grace," thus our correspondent was permitted entry.
In violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's regulation, a variety of domestic and international foods, beverages, and necessities were displayed on the shelf at the Villa 7 grocery store without a price tag.
Yoruba-speaking staff member expressed disbelief that a Nigerian was permitted access, speculating that "perhaps they permitted it because you didn't arrive in a car."
She added that for reasons that were unknown to them, the government had prevented Nigerians from entering.
Yes, Nigerians are prohibited from entering the grocery, she said. This is a place of business that is only open to employees. It wasn't always like this, thus there may be explanations that we are unaware of. I'm not sure how you got in, perhaps because you didn't have a car. They would never let anyone onto the property who arrived in a car.
However, our correspondent encountered another group of security officers at the gate on Monday, who gave access without raising any concerns.
"You want to go to the supermarket?," asked the guard who did have a name tag. Without posing any more queries, "You can go."
Our journalist stood outside the compound for more than an hour without seeing anyone come or go. This sighting was confirmed by another writer who visited the same place later in the day.
Additionally, our correspondent saw a significant presence of Department of State Security agents who had come to look into the situation.
CGCC responds
In response to the allegations, the China General Chamber of Commerce—located in the Royal Choice Estate beside the supermarket—denied claims that any Nigerians were the target of prejudice or were refused entry to the estate or shop in order to make grocery purchases.
This was said by the CGCC in a statement released on Monday in Abuja under the headline "REJOINDER: Response to Allegations of Discrimination at Chinese Supermarket" and signed by the management.
The chamber clarified that, for safety reasons, entrance to the estate's residential sector, which is made up of privately occupied homes, must follow security measures.
Nonetheless, it expressed remorse for the conflict that occurred at the estate's entrance gate between a security guard and a patron, noting that the incident in no way represented the estate management's official stance.
The entire statement said, "There is no connection whatsoever between the supermarket and the China General Chamber of Commerce." Privately occupied homes make up the estate's residential portion. For security purposes, access for outside guests must abide by protocols. The manager of the supermarket claims that nobody was turned away from the estate or prevented from entering the shop in order to make a purchase.
The statement continued, "It is sad and in no way represents the official viewpoint of the estate management the altercation that occurred between security officers and a client at the estate's entrance gate. One organisation that supports inclusivity and equality is the China General Chamber of Commerce. Our guiding principles are to foster economic development and strengthen the goodwill between the citizens of the two nations. It is true to say that seeing is believing. We welcome visits from personal witnesses to the truth.
Sanusi Shuaibu, the assistant facility manager, refuted claims that the chamber was prejudiced against Nigerians in her remarks on the supermarket's discriminating policy, pointing out that the management was unaware of the rule that prevents Nigerians from entering the establishment.
During a Monday interview, Shauibu reiterated that there were no policies that discriminated against Nigerians, even if the bulk of the people were Chinese. He stressed further that tenants and owners received the same treatment regardless of nationality.
He declared, "It's not entirely accurate. We rent out our office building to tenants, and the estate is residential in nature. The supermarket was leased to Chinese residents in order to house them and provide food to meet their needs. It's a little store with mostly Chinese food for sale.
Tenants of these premises are the supermarket owners. The building houses them while they sell their wares. Nothing in this place belongs to them. These people are from China, and they have been living here for the past two years. different residents who own different enterprises also occupy this space as tenants. We are all tenants here. The Chamber of Commerce is essentially a tiny office.
We would have requested them to vacate so that they wouldn't bring a negative reputation, but we had no idea about the policy. We have had no problems with some of the guests residing here