A Chinese supermarket located in Abuja has come under fire for its discriminatory policy of denying entry to Nigerians.
The supermarket, situated at the China General Chamber of Commerce along Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road in the Federal Capital Territory, is known for its Chinese cuisine and beverages but restricts access exclusively to individuals of Chinese descent.
The issue came to light when a video posted by X Daily showed an unidentified FCT resident expressing outrage over the discriminatory practice.
The resident recounted their experience of being denied entry, with security officers at the gate stating that the supermarket was strictly for Chinese people and that no Nigerian was allowed to enter or purchase anything.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with users expressing disbelief and anger at the apparent discrimination.
Uncle Deji @DejiAdesogan wrote on X, “So there’s a Chinese supermarket in Abuja that Nigerians cannot enter, let alone buy anything, that only Chinese are allowed? So weird to believe.”
Another X user, Otunba AbdulFattah @OyedeleFatai, corroborated the claim, stating that he was denied access twice this year and was informed by security that Nigerians had been barred from entering the premises since January 2024.
A review by Whitney Ukanga on the chamber’s Google page further highlighted the issue, stating, “The Chinese have gradually seeped their nasty tentacles onto Nigeria.
Nigerians have been forbidden to get into the supermarket in the China Chamber of Commerce, but every other nationality may enter. In our own country. This is absolutely horrible and absurd.”
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has been made aware of the allegations, with Senior Public Relations Officer Nicholas Utsalo requesting access to the video footage and assuring the public that an investigation would be conducted.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Afam Osigwe strongly condemned the discriminatory action, likening it to racism and emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and measures to address such behavior.
Osgwe called on the government to take immediate action and thoroughly investigate the issue to ensure that such occurrences do not happen anywhere within the country.
The incident has reignited concerns about the growing influence of Chinese businesses in Nigeria and the need for stricter regulations to prevent discrimination against Nigerian citizens in their own country.
