In Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, authorities recently closed a Chinese-owned supermarket due to allegations of discriminatory practices against African customers.
The country’s consumer protection watchdog accused the supermarket of allowing only individuals of Chinese descent to enter, prompting an investigation and summoning of the supermarket’s owner by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The supermarket, located in a building managed by the China General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC), faced allegations of racism after reports surfaced on social media of African shoppers being denied entry by security guards.
Outrage spread online when a video circulated showing a man who had been prevented from accessing the supermarket despite discovering it online.
The Chinese chamber of commerce in Nigeria has refuted these racism allegations. Nevertheless, the incident has sparked significant public concern and regulatory action as authorities investigate the claims of discriminatory behaviour.
“At the gate, the security people told me that the supermarket is strictly for Chinese people. If you are a Nigerian, you can’t go inside or buy anything,” he said in the clip posted on X, formerly Twitter.
In another video on X, a group of Nigerians are seen visiting a building to verify the reports that non-Chinese shoppers were being turned away.
A security guard outside the entrance appears to tell them that the supermarket had cut off access to Nigerians since January.
Several Nigerians have demanded the closure of the supermarket, including former senator Shehu Sani, who said that any store in Nigeria that was not accessible to citizens “should be forcibly opened or be pulled down”.
In a statement quoted by local media, the CGCC said it stood for “equality and inclusiveness”.
“Our principles are to enhance friendship between the people of both countries and promote economic development,” it added.
The FCCPC quoted an administrator at the building, Sanusi Shuabiu, as saying that the supermarket mainly sold Chinese groceries and that while it was initially opened to serve the building’s tenants, it permitted entry to outside shoppers, including non-Chinese visitors.
The supermarket’s owner has not yet commented. She has been summoned to appear before the consumer protection agency by Wednesday.
The watchdog says that the supermarket will remain closed until she complies with the summons.
Nigeria has a Chinese population of less than 10,000, according to the Statista website.
